Our Mission
Provide science-based, eco-friendly K-9 solutions for Biosecurity in Saudi Arabia, using trained dogs to detect invasive pests like the Red Palm Weevil early.
Invasive insects and pests are a major threat to food security. They destroy crops and infest both plants and trees.
Therefore, early detection is essential to stop their spread before the damage becomes irreversible.
To strengthen these efforts, K2 Europe’s ICP team partnered with scientific institutes to reintroduce trained dogs for Red Palm Weevil (RPW) detection. This method adds an effective and practical layer to our K-9 solutions for Biosecurity.
Dogs have supported Red Palm Weevil detection since the early 1900s. However, earlier methods trained them only to detect adult beetles. As a result, traditional approaches offered little more than the basic solutions already available.
For this reason, K2 Europe developed the BugVape™ solution to address this critical threat to Biosecurity. It improves early detection where it matters most and allows intervention before significant damage occurs.
Advanced K-9 Training for Early RPW Detection
K2 Europe’s K-9 teams receive unique training for Red Palm Weevil detection. They use our proprietary technology and the specialized Remote Scent Tracing (RST) method.
Although dogs have long been part of RPW detection efforts, they struggled to identify pests during the earliest life stages, when the infestation is still hidden and treatable.
Therefore, our ICP created the BugVape™ technology after years of research with universities and canine research centers. This innovation allows dogs to detect Red Palm Weevil during the egg and larva phases, enabling faster action and better protection for palm trees.
BugVape™ Technology in Saudi Arabia and the Region
The BugVape™ technology is applied at country borders, inside shipping containers with palm shoots, and in the field for early detection of Red Palm Weevil in mature palm trees.
Because of this early-warning capability, BugVape™ has become a groundbreaking solution for countries that depend heavily on date production.
K-9 teams help save millions of palm trees each year. This protection prevents enormous agricultural and economic losses.
Moreover, several governments across the Middle East and North Africa, notably Saudi Arabia, have adopted BugVape™ as the standard Red Palm Weevil early detection protocol. The BugVape service is operated by our sister company, EASTWIND Biosecurity.
