INSECTARIUM-X

A system for rearing, monitoring and managing bioagents for pest control in agriculture.

An automated insectarium that keeps beneficial organisms in exactly the conditions they need, records every measurement, and can be controlled from anywhere.

Nature's own pest control, reared with industrial precision.

Insectarium-X is an automated insectarium: a closed chamber for rearing bioagents, together with software for managing it.

Bioagents are beneficial organisms, insects and others, that naturally limit crop pests. They are used in biological plant protection as an alternative to chemical pesticides.

The system was developed by Generic Soft Ltd within a project co-funded by the European Union and has reached technology readiness level TRL 7: a prototype demonstrated in an operational environment.

One deviation can compromise a whole rearing cycle.

Rearing bioagents requires a precise and stable microclimate: temperature, humidity, light and ventilation that change with each development stage of the organisms and between day and night.

Rearing becomes more predictable, easier to control and documented, a precondition for wider use of biological pest control and for reducing the use of chemical treatments.

Set the program once. The chamber does the rest.

The operator sets a program with separate phases for each development stage of the bioagent, and each phase can have a different mode for day and night. Values shown are illustrative.

Control locally on the device's touchscreen, or remotely through the web app from a computer or phone.

Rearing programs

Separate phases for each development stage of the bioagent, each with its own day and night mode.

Automatic microclimate control

Sensors continuously measure temperature and humidity; the controller manages heating, cooling, humidification, ventilation and lighting. Door openings are detected too.

Local and remote control

Managed from the touchscreen on the device and through a web app on a computer or phone.

Works without internet

The device runs its program independently when the connection drops. Data is stored locally and synced to the cloud when the connection returns.

Resilient to power outages

When power is restored, the system continues from the correct phase of the program, not from the beginning.

Traceability and security

Every program run and change is recorded. Each device has its own cryptographic key, and users work in organisations with different roles and permissions.

Three layers. Each one keeps working if the others fail.

Device, middleware and cloud each have their own responsibility and can be developed and tested separately. The chamber keeps maintaining the microclimate even when the upper levels drop out.

Three separate layers: device, middleware and cloud

Each layer has its own responsibility and can be developed and tested on its own. Result: the chamber keeps maintaining the microclimate even if the upper levels fail.

Real-time control on a dedicated IEC 61131-3 controller

Control of heaters, cooling and ventilation is separated from the rest of the software and does not depend on the cloud or the internet connection.

Execution calculated from elapsed time

After a power cut the program does not start over; it continues from the phase it should be in.

Full record of every run

Every start stores a copy of the program, and every change is logged with its type, description and source. Result: you can trace the conditions every batch was reared in.

Own cryptographic key per device

Every insectarium authenticates individually with the cloud platform.

Multi-user model

Organisations, roles and program sharing let one farm or laboratory work with several operators and several devices.

From the first sensor test to TRL 7.

The project ran in two activities from 07.03.2025 to 07.09.2026. Scroll to follow the path.

Laboratory testing of the hardware

Laboratory tests of the hardware components for microclimate control: controllers, temperature, humidity and light sensors, and actuators.

Test program and component selection

A program and methodology for testing the functionality and durability of the hardware, and selection of the right components.

Designing the physical construction

Design of the physical construction of the insectarium.

Monitoring and control software

Architecture, user interface, control algorithms and the link to the cloud platform, then integration with the hardware.

Building the prototype

The rearing chamber was built with a control unit, a custom electronic board, a touchscreen and an embedded operating system, connected to the cloud platform.

Experimental testing

Long-running laboratory tests: holding temperature modes, reacting to events, network and power outages, and connection security.

Demonstration in an operational environment

An external user, an expert in quality management, worked with the system independently. The feedback was used for the next improvements.

TRL 7 reached

A prototype of the system demonstrated in an operational environment.

Tested against independent instruments. Well inside tolerance.

Deviation from an independent reference instrument during testing.

Difference from the reference instrument, in percentage points.

A prototype of the system was developed and demonstrated in an operational environment.

During a 5-minute network outage, program and control continued without interruption; the cloud connection restored automatically in about 30 seconds.

After a restart the system continues from the correct program phase and restores the climate mode.

The external user rated the system as suitable for laboratory work and for training students.

Made for the laboratory and the farm.

The system is designed to work both in a laboratory and in the conditions of an agricultural holding.

Test INSECTARIUM-X with us.

We are looking for farmers, laboratories and universities who want to test Insectarium-X or collaborate with us in developing the system.

Co-funded by
the European Union Programme Competitiveness and Innovation
in Enterprises

Insectarium-X was developed under the project “Development of innovations in Generic Soft Ltd”, administrative contract No. BG16RFPR001-1.001-0163-C01, funded by the Programme “Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises” 2021-2027, procedure BG16RFPR001-1.001 “Development of innovations in enterprises”, co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund.

“This document was created with the financial support of the Programme “Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises” 2021-2027, co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund. Generic Soft Ltd bears full responsibility for the content of the document, and under no circumstances can it be assumed that this document reflects the official position of the European Union and the Managing Authority.”