Varcli Reduces Pesticide Use by 13% with In-Field Visibility

The Challenge

In Costa Rica, 100% of banana production is impacted on an annual basis by Black Sigatoka disease. Identifying and treating this disease presents unique challenges. Traditional weather monitoring systems lack the necessary insight to predict disease onset. Producers rely on visual verification of the disease; by the time leaf streaks are detectable, infestation is advanced and the risk of spread is elevated.

Producers have depended on an aggressive spray schedule to prevent and treat Sigatoka, typically spraying every five days to stay ahead of infestation. This practice has adversely impacted Costa Rica’s local ecosystems, biodiversity, soil health, and human well-being.

“Sigatoka significantly constrains banana production in Costa Rica,” explains Olman Vargas, who manages Varcli’s data systems and innovation projects. “We constantly struggle to manage the disease, relying on persistent, heavy pesticide sprays to preserve yield. This comes with huge costs for our operation and Costa Rica’s environment.”

Unfortunately, tracking the conditions under which Sigatoka thrives is challenging. Growers must determine the exact humidity threshold—those persistent conditions of temperature, rainfall, humidity, and wind—that last long enough on the leaves to create an ideal environment for fungal reproduction.

Varcli, focused on sustainable production, set out on a mission to improve their approach to disease management and in their quest explored the use of multiple technologies including various sensors, drones, and even satellite imagery. Each of those approaches fell short of delivering comprehensive, real-time in-field visibility cost-effectively. Furthermore, aggregating and analyzing all of the different variables in real time was nearly impossible, often resulting in grossly inaccurate standardizations.

The Solution

To meet their goal of enhancing sustainability by reducing fungicide sprays and lowering treatment costs (which can often exceed $450,000 a year), Varcli needed better data, faster technology, and the ability to account for all the environmental variables that led to Sigatoka disease. They also needed more insights on what was happening agronomically. These requirements led them to Arable’s in-field technology.

Collaborating with the team from AgInnovaTech, Varcli implemented Arable’s in-field sensing and monitoring system and developed a predictive model that utilizes Arable data to identify the precise conditions in which Sigatoka thrives.

With Arable in the field, Varcli gains access to real-time, farm-specific data on leaf humidity, relative humidity, NDVI, chlorophyll index, and both air and leaf temperature—all critical factors that contribute to the proliferation of Sigatoka. These essential data elements power Varcli’s predictive model. When humidity levels persist for 14 hours and reach a predetermined threshold, the model triggers an alert—typically six days before fungal reproduction begins.

“With Arable, we have the real-time visibility we need to know exactly when to intervene in fungal growth,” explains Olman. “Instead of relying on a steady plan of aerially applied fungicide, which isn’t always necessary, we are creating a more precise crop protection program that uses data to align the treatment method with the disease pressure level. This proactive, data-led approach has led to positive outcomes for both the planet and our business.”

Today, Varcli only performs aerial spray applications when necessary. They no longer have to rely on the labor-intensive method of visual verification of fungal growth; instead, they have Arable as their “digital eye in the field” and can use data to spot the early signs of disease outbreaks. This proactive approach enables timely agronomic decisions that safeguard the health of their banana trees and maintain crop yield.

The Results

With Arable powering its predictive model, Varcli has dramatically reduced the frequency of spray applications, choosing to spray only when and what is necessary. This reduction leads to fewer chemicals entering the ecosystem, decreased emissions from jet fuel, and lower water consumption since fungicide is mixed with water for each application. Collectively, these changes enhance sustainability and reduce costs.

This new approach to disease management is enabling Varcli to make significant strides in the pursuit of becoming Costa Rica’s leader in sustainability. “As a small farm, our main selling point is our commitment to sustainability through ongoing research and innovation,” Olman explains. “We take great pride in our achievements, which have strengthened our partnership with our largest customer. Together, we are dedicated to exploring ways to reduce carbon emissions and optimize input usage in farming, all while maintaining the highest product quality.”

Reducing spray frequency also translates into substantial savings for their operation. “We are in the business of growing nutritious, high-quality bananas sustainably,” states Felipe Olman Vargas Vargas, the founder. “Using advanced technology like Arable in our operation has enabled us to reduce crop protection costs by about 20% while still meeting our quality and yield objectives.”

In year one of using the Arable-powered predictive model—despite a season marked by high Sigatoka incidents—Varcli successfully maintained the health of their crop and yield. Year two delivered even greater benefits where they reduced an average of two applications for every Sigatoka event, decreasing their total sprays from 72 to 62. Moving forward, the Varcli team sees the potential to achieve a 25-30% reduction in sprays.

Additionally, by minimizing aerial fumigation applications, Varcli is cutting carbon emissions from jet fuel, conserving 0.1 metric tons for each avoided spray. Water, which serves as the medium for spraying fungicide via aerial application, is also conserved; Varcli saves an average of 2.5 cubic meters (or 687 gallons) of water with each avoided spray.