What is it about?
SLIMERS is a new £2.6M farmer-led research programme set to change the way slugs are monitored and treated, in a bid to drive sustainable solutions for slug management. Slugs are arable farming’s biggest pest issue, estimated to cost the UK industry about £43.5M per year. Since the ban on metaldehyde, there is now only one form of chemical control for slugs – ferric phosphate pellets – so protecting the longevity of this will require both a strategic and precision approach to slug management.
What are the project aims?
The aims are to reduce reliance on slug pellet usage and advance alternative biological control via an economically viable approach. The project will achieve this by building on previous work in this area and will combine expertise from across the consortium to develop cost-effective digital autonomous slug monitoring, forecasting and patch/spot treatment for both conventional and alternative biocontrol agents, delivered as an end-to-end service model.
Who is running the project?
The project partners comprise a consortium of UK companies, research institutes and farmer networks, led by BOFIN (British On-Farm Innovation Network).
Who is it for?
SLIMERS is designed to be collaborative and therefore suited to anyone who is facing significant slug challenges and/or those who are looking for alternative, precision techniques for control.
Can I be involved?
Absolutely – in fact, farmer involvement is integral to the success of this project. The ‘Slug Circle’ will be at the core of this – a platform and knowledge exchange hub designed to facilitate discussion, idea sharing and tips for best practice when it comes to slug burdens and controlling them. From this community, 30 ‘Slug Sleuths’ will be selected and paid to host trials on their own farm to test the technology and help researchers learn more about slug behaviour in a bid to create a long-term solution.
For more information on the science and research behind this project, take a look at the leaflet by clicking here.
