The project implementation methodology is summarized in the 4 following actions:

i) Current Situation Analysis - Overview

Initially, an analysis of the existing situation at the facilities of the "VIOZOKAT" company will be made, through a thorough study of all stages of processing and storage of animal feed at the company's facilities. In addition, this phase will record the detection and traceability techniques of insects on the company's premises, as well as the disinfestation methodologies (main insecticides, disinfestation protocols for the various processing stages) already applied by the company, in order to assess the adequacy of the already existing measures based on the protocol followed by the company. In addition, a monitoring and trapping network will be designed and placed on the premises and the product, with the aim of early identification of entomological enemies. At the same time, populations of the main storage insects present on the company's premises will be collected, in order to create breedings of these insect populations by the Institute of Bio-economy and Agro-technology (IBO) of the National Center for Research and Technological Development (EKETA), which will be used in the next phases of the project (that is, the effectiveness of the various methods that will be tested on the insect populations that already exist in the company, in addition to the populations (lab populations) maintained at IBO/EKETA will be tested. Finally, the durability will be evaluated of these specific populations to phosphine, in order to test the effect of the following phosphine fumigation practices on the development of resistance by the insects.

ii) Evaluation and optimization of precision fumigation applications with phosphine

In this phase of the proposed research project, fully controlled disinfestation containers and silos will be installed on the company's premises in order to carry out a series of precision applications with phosphine. The aim of these disinfestations is that the application of phosphine is not done "blindly", but through a network of sensors there is continuous, and real-time, monitoring of the progress of the disinsection. The use of these technologies, networks and computing systems, will enable the user to take timely corrective actions during disinfestation (e.g. increasing the concentration of phosphine, increasing the exposure interval), with the ultimate goal of homogeneous distribution of phosphine in the area of application and increasing its effectiveness. In this series of disinfestations, different disinfestation conditions will be tested (different temperatures and humidities, different concentrations and exposure times, different products, etc.) in order to design an algorithm based on the results, which will predict the evolution of the disinfestation (based on that is, the prevailing conditions and the type of product will recommend the necessary dose of application and the time period of exposure to phosphine in order for the disinfestation to be successful).

iii) Evaluating the efficacy of contact insecticides

In this phase, the applicability and effectiveness of various approved contact insecticides in the area and the product against the insect populations found in the company will be evaluated. In particular, populations of warehouse insects that have been found in the company will be further developed in laboratory conditions. These species will be evaluated for their resistance to methods already in use, such as phosphine and the various approved contact insecticides, such as pirimiphos-methyl. Based on the results, bioassays will be carried out with these insects in terms of their sensitivity to other agents, based on which a decision system will be designed for the application to a greater exposure of contact insecticides. The effectiveness of the active substances to be evaluated will be done on various surfaces, which are commonly used in the construction of animal feed storage facilities. As it is important to know how long each application provides protection to stored feed, the residual effect of these insecticides after surface spraying will also be evaluated.

iv) Evaluation of the economic and social footprint of the applications

More specifically, the economic analysis will be carried out through the use of the Data Envelopment Analysis method, putting into the selection process not only the costs and mortality rates of the insects but also the effect of the substances on the environment and the applicator. In addition, a consumer behavior survey will be carried out in a weighted sample of at least 300 people with the aim of highlighting the factors that influence the consumer public regarding green disinfestation methods.