In 2023 and 2024, WRTBWA participated in a program funded and organized by the PEI AgriWatershed, whose goal is to build partnership between farming and watershed communities. For this project, WRTBWA worked with Steijn Potato Farms in York, PEI, to monitor for late blight. Late blight is a disease that disfigures and destroys solanaceous (or nightshade) crops like tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and eggplants. A fungus-like micro-organism called Phytophthora infestans causes brown spots on the leaves or the fruit itself, eventually leading it to rot. Spore monitoring for this fungus is used as an early warning sign for producers by indicating whether there are late blight spores in the air around their fields. With this information, farmers can better plan when and if they need to spray their crop.

​

"I think it's very important to find different ways to manage things like blight," said farmer Robin Steijn. "With this program, at least we have an early-warning detection, and it can help us limit the amount of sprays that we need to use."

​

 To test for the fungus, a tool called the Spornado is used. It works by collecting spores through the air in detachable cartridges that can then be taken to the lab and tested for late blight spores.