Berry Sweet adopts Entomatic dispenser for efficiency

Berry Sweet, a soft fruit grower, has implemented an automated Entomatic dispenser to enhance efficiency and reduce labor costs. The dispenser, developed by Biobest in collaboration with Hortiworld, delivers beneficial insects evenly throughout greenhouses.

“This innovative dispenser perfectly answers the needs of many soft fruit growers,” said Stephanus Malherbe from Biological Services. Anthony Yewers, owner of Berry Sweet, noted that manual dispensing of beneficial insects has been time-intensive and inconsistent. “Time is money,” Yewers said. “It can be difficult to assess whether the task has been performed well.”

With operations across 60 hectares in Western Australia, Berry Sweet produces strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries for major supermarkets. The rise of Chilli thrips has intensified the need for effective pest management solutions.

The Entomatic dispenser is designed to adapt to various greenhouse setups and can operate with multiple dispensing points. Following its successful deployment, interest has surged from other growers looking to optimize their biological control strategies.