The new SynField installation at NILEAS producers’ group has been successfully completed. Leaf wetness sensors were added to existing installations in olive groves of the agricultural cooperative. These sensors were connected to SynField and SynOdos devices that had already been deployed at the cooperative, enabling the monitoring and recording of environmental and soil conditions in the selected areas.
The NILEAS Producers’ Group was founded in early 2002 and is based in Chora, Messinia. It was established by 55 olive growers from the wider region of Western Messinia with the aim of implementing an Integrated Crop Management system. At the same time, it was the first organized group in Greece to be established for this purpose in olive cultivation.
The installed leaf wetness sensors contribute to the early detection and diagnosis of conditions that favor the development of olive anthracnose (gloeosporium). Gloeosporium is promoted by prolonged moisture on leaf surfaces and fruits, high relative air humidity, and mild temperatures—conditions commonly observed in spring and autumn.
The risk increases significantly during periods of rainfall, fog, or nighttime dew and becomes more critical from autumn through harvest, particularly when targeted spring plant protection has not been applied or when the ripening fruit is more susceptible due to olive fruit fly infestations. In such cases, production losses can range from 30% in mild outbreaks to up to 70% in severe cases. For this reason, systematic monitoring of leaf wetness duration within the tree canopy is essential for early disease forecasting.
Using sensor data (leaf wetness, meteorological, and microclimatic variables), Synelixis’ digital tools—by integrating AI-based predictive models developed within the framework of the research project—transform measurements into risk indices and send notifications (alerts) when conditions converge toward an increased probability of infection. The goal is timely warning, enabling growers and agronomists to make well-informed plant protection decisions at the right time.
