FOLLOW US
Via del Commercio, 3 int. 5
37030 - Colognola ai Colli (VR)
ITALY
© 2024
Test Facility
The test facility Precision Testing S.R.L. is authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture to conduct official GEP official trials for the evaluation of the efficacy and selectivity of plant protection products and biostimulants (Decree 04.08.2025 - Official Gazette n. 193 del 21-08-2025)
Fields of expertize
Fungicides, insecticides, acaricides, limacids, nematicides, herbicides, plant growth regulators, corroborants, biostimulants, adjuvants, pheromones, and biological control agents are tested on the following crops:
- Arable crops on open field
- Vegetables both in open field and under protected conditions
- Fruit trees and grapevine
- Medicinal/aromatic/ornamental crops
Tested applications
- Spray
- In-furrow at sowing
- Seed treatments
- Post-harvest applications on seeds, fruits, tubers, and bulbs
The characteristics of the Test Facility
1 - Monitoring (soil-crop-pest-yield) with sensors on tractors, drones and plot combines
Preliminary: at the beginning of the study, to localize suitable areas for carrying out field trials; to study the variability of specific parameters of the soil and of the pest distribution.
During the trial: to evaluate the development of the crop by means of specific vegetative parameters; to calibrate the agronomic intervention; to determine the right timing of application for the products in trial.
Final, on yield: to define amount and quality of the crop production.
2 - Use of modern equipment and machinery
All the key interventions carried out on the trials (monitoring, applications, harvest) are performed with modern equipment and machinery, specifically designed for field research and equipped with 4.0 technology. The calibration of all the equipments is the starting point to collect solid and reliable data.
3 - Use of precision equipments and tools and of the "Precision Testing" technique
At the heart of the "Precision Testing" technique is a reasoned and careful distribution of the plots (small or large) in the field; based on the evaluation of the data obtained from preliminary monitoring and from the study of the variability maps of some key parameters.
The use of precision agriculture equipment and digital technologies allows to manage georeferenced, and variable-rate applications, based on prescription maps.
The specialties of Test Facility
1 - Precision farming trials (with targeted applications)
The skills of the technicians, in preparing specific prescription maps and using equipment to manage precision application (seeders, sprayers, fertilizer spreaders, drones), allows the application of products (experimental or close to market) on selected and georeferenced areas in open fields.
2 - Trials for seed protection
The trials are carried out in various agro-environments in Northern Italy (Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia).
For some targets (e.g. Agriotes sp.), the staff of Precision Testing identifies every year, the suitable species and infestations on which carrying out the fied trials, thanks to: bait placement, soil sampling, collecting and identification (binocular) of different stages of pests. For other species (e.g. Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, Ostrinia nubilalis, Agrotis spp) the technicians conduct monitoring of adults in the area, also in collaboration with regional Research Centres.
Seed treatments are carried out internally, with the Hege-11 wet seed treater.
3 - Trials conducted in experimental farm
Precision Testing manages an experimental farm of 4,3 hectares , which includes a tunnel for protected crops. In the experimental farm, it is possible to apply inoculums of pathogens to the soil or crop and the distributing seed of common annual broadleaf and grass weeds.