The BatNav project utilises a series of interventional structures strategically placed throughout the vineyard to subtly guide microbat populations to extend their feeding zone, maximising their consumption of common vineyard pests.
Microbats use echolocation, a sophisticated form of sonar, to navigate and hunt in the dark.
These soundwaves bounce off objects, providing information about the environment, enabling them to navigate and hence hunt their prey.
However, as microbats venture further into the vineyard, away from the remnant vegetation where they live, their ability to echo-locate is significantly reduced as there are no vertical structures to echo-locate from, resulting in a narrow feeding zone around the vineyard edge.
The BatNav system leverages this natural behaviour by creating a system that reflects and manipulates echolocation signals, guiding microbats into pest-rich zones.
This increases their feeding efficiency and reduces pest populations in vineyards.
Fowles Wine chief executive and owner Matt Fowles said the Coles Nurture Fund grant had helped bring to life an Australian-first idea with far-reaching benefits.
“We’re very excited about the potential impact of our BatNav system in controlling agricultural pests in Australian vineyards, which could save the wine industry $50 million a year in pesticide costs and deliver a host of other environmental benefits” he said.
“The potential impact goes beyond Australia’s vineyards and we’d love nothing more than to see this system adopted in vineyards, orchards, market gardens and other pest-prone crops across the country — and world — because it represents a genuine win-win for producers and biodiversity.”
Matt partnered with the University of New England to undertake a year-long study at his Strathbogie Ranges vineyards to better understand the different microbat species living there (of which there are 12), their feeding habits and their role in maintaining biodiversity in the local ecosystem.
He said the results of the research, along with other projects conducted with Euroa Arboretum, clearly showed that they were ‘on the right track’ with their biodiversity strategy.
The team has begun capturing the BatNav project’s progress for a ‘fly-on-the-wall’ docuseries.
“We are rapt to have a platform to share what we’re learning — and what other producers can too — to improve understanding, practices and care for the environment,” Matt said.
Watch the BatNav trailer at https://tinyurl.com/2wmhfv9a
