Norwich scientists ask people to post them slugs
It's for a new initiative to work out ways to stop the pests that cost farmers more than ÂŁ43 million a year
You've heard of snail mail... now hear about slug mail...
Scientists in Norfolk are asking people to post them your slugs.
Researchers at the John Innes centre in Norwich are looking for new ways to control them - as new research they cost ÂŁ43.5 million a year for farmers in damage and control.
The British On Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN) is leading the project, called Strategies Leading to Improved Management and Enhanced Resilience against Slugs, (SLIMERS).
They've partnered with CHAP, AGRIVATION, Harper Adams University, John Innes Centre, and Small Robot Company. It is funded by Defra Farming Innovation Programme, delivered by Innovate UK.
The hope is to develop cost-effective digital autonomous slug monitoring, forecasting and precision-treatment tools.
Slugs may seem harmless but they are arable farming’s biggest pest issue. They causes £43.5M crop damage per year for wheat and oilseed rape in the UK and for which there is one form of control, ferric phosphate pellets.
These are the only way to control them currently and with climate change we have increasing wet weather, which is ideal for slugs.
A type of wheat that slugs seem to hate has already been found according to Tom, but for more tests to be carried out they need your slugs:
"We'll send you a pack that has containers to put the slugs in. It also had full instructions of what to do, a slug ID guide as well and postage paid envelopes as well."
The research is being conducted at The John Innes Centre, located in Norwich, Norfolk.
You can find out more about SLIMERS and becoming a Slug Scout online.