Cambridge, July 13, 2026 - Bayer today announced the UK launch of MagicTrap 2, the next generation of its digital pest monitoring solution for oilseed rape pests. Building on the proven MagicTrap concept, the new device has been comprehensively enhanced to meet the needs of modern farming, with clear gains in precision, connectivity and day to day practicality in the field.
MagicTrap is Bayer's fully automated digital yellow water trap for oilseed rape pests. It helps growers monitor pest pressure remotely by capturing images from the field and making the analysed results available through the MagicScout app on a smartphone, supporting more timely and informed decision-making. The tool autonomously detects, categorises and quantifies a wide range of insects and pests, including flea beetle, pollen beetle and weevils, while distinguishing between pests and other insects.
With its targeted hardware upgrades, MagicTrap 2 is designed to raise the standard of digital pest monitoring in practical arable farming. A key improvement is its camera system, which now combines higher resolution with autofocus to deliver sharper images for pest monitoring. The integrated flash ensures clear pictures even in low-light conditions, enabling reliable automated analysis across more field situations. The device also brings important advances in connectivity and ease of use, with an enhanced antenna for stronger signal and updated LED indicators showing battery status and signal strength directly on the device, making set-up and in-field checks more straightforward.
“With MagicTrap 2, we are setting a new standard for digital pest monitoring in terms of robustness, precision and reliability,” said Max Dafforn, Digital Lead EMEA for Bayer UK. “The improved technology helps with day-to-day field use and provides a strong foundation for future tools that will continue to support British farmers in managing pest pressure more effectively. It also shows our ongoing commitment to deliver digital innovations in agriculture.”
Already available in Germany and Austria, with rollout in the UK and 14 additional European markets through to 2027, the second generation of MagicTrap marks an important step in expanding Bayer’s practical, AI enabled digital farming offer across Europe.
About Bayer
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its mission, “Health for all, Hunger for none,” the company’s products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2025, the Group employed around 88,000 people and had sales of 45.6 billion euros. R&D expenses amounted to 5.8 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.