NEWS
The CERBERUS smart sprayer is now being tested in citrus orchards
Cyprus (November 2026)
Citrus growing in Cyprus faces a constant challenge: the Mediterranean fruit fly. This pest can cause serious damage to fruit, and controlling it has traditionally meant treating large areas of the orchard in the same way. The CERBERUS project is testing a different approach, and the first field trial of its smart sprayer prototype has now taken place in citrus orchards on the island.
In the video, Chara Christodoulou, agronomist at Cyprus Phassouri Plantations (RedSeal Quality), walks us through this first trial. Her account gives a clear view of what the team is testing and why it matters for growers working under demanding export standards.
A prescription map for each part of the orchard
The sprayer works with a variable-rate prescription map that defines five dose levels. As the machine moves through the orchard, it adjusts the spray volume to each area, so the right amount of product is applied where it is needed rather than the same volume everywhere. This is the core of what CERBERUS is testing: applying the right amount of product in the right place.
BLOG
Chara Chistodoulou: “We manage 600 hectares of citrus in Cyprus, where the Mediterranean fruit fly is one of our major challenges”
Managing approximately 600 hectares of citrus orchards in Cyprus comes with significant agricultural challenges—chief among them, the Mediterranean fruit fly. In this interview, Chara Christodoulou, agronomist at Cyprus Phassouri Plantations Co. Ltd (RedSeal Quality), explains how they are testing the CERBERUS smart sprayer prototype in the field. She walks us through the pest pressure growers face, particularly the Mediterranean fruit fly, what makes this prototype different from conventional equipment, and how satellite data, sensors and AI could help turn monitoring into precise, timely decisions in the field. To give some context, what is the total citrus-growing area in Cyprus? What impact does the Mediterranean fruit
Chara Chistodoulou: “We manage 600 hectares of citrus in Cyprus, where the Mediterranean fruit fly is one of our major challenges”
Managing approximately 600 hectares of citrus orchards in Cyprus comes with significant agricultural challenges—chief among them, the Mediterranean fruit fly. In this interview, Chara Christodoulou, agronomist at Cyprus Phassouri Plantations Co. Ltd (RedSeal Quality), explains how they are testing the CERBERUS smart sprayer prototype in the field. She walks us through the pest pressure growers face, particularly the Mediterranean fruit fly, what makes this prototype different from conventional equipment, and how satellite data, sensors and AI could help turn monitoring into precise, timely decisions in the field. To give some context, what is the total citrus-growing area in Cyprus? What impact does the Mediterranean fruit
Chara Chistodoulou: “We manage 600 hectares of citrus in Cyprus, where the Mediterranean fruit fly is one of our major challenges”
Managing approximately 600 hectares of citrus orchards in Cyprus comes with significant agricultural challenges—chief among them, the Mediterranean fruit fly. In this interview, Chara Christodoulou,
SMART SPRAYING
