In mid-March 2018 it was anounced that DTN, an independent source of insight and analysis, and decision-support solutions to customers worldwide in agriculture, energy, commodities and financial analytics, had signed a definitive agreement to acquire Spensa Technologies, a precision agriculture technology company. Terms of the acquisition were not announced, Anchored in technology developed at Purdue University, Spensa Technologies Inc, provides vertically integrated precision pest management solutions for modern agriculture. The organizing principle is to design, develop and deliver novel technologies for the agricultural industry that will reduce reliance on manual labor, foster eco-friendly farming, and enhance crop production efficiency. The firm's services and products leverage their developed expertise in wireless sensor networks, embedded computing, computer vision, and robotics. The firm has created a cloud-based electronic insect trap that also is able to monitor insects in real-time. Called the Z-Trap, the system allows farmers to reduce and control the amount of pesticide they use. Usefully thought of as a digital Roach Motel for farm pests, insects enter and are caught; leaving behind an electronic fingerprint that is used to distinguish between an innocent ladybug and a crop-eating locust. The electronic traps are placed in the field, creating a wireless sensor network that collects data on the type of insect, density of the infestation, and location in the field, all available via a PC or smartphone. The technology provides real-time monitoring of insect populations and allows farmers to reduce the use of harmful pesticides by targeting only problem areas. Z-Trap helps prevent crop damage by using pheromones to trap insects and then compile data on the number of different types of insects in the trap. Z-Trap wirelessly transmits the data, including its GPS coordinates, allowing farmers to view a map of the types of insects that have been detected. By remotely monitoring pests, farmers can place traps at a density dictated by specific needs, thereby saving time and money and minimizing the use of insecticides.
