Project description DEENESFRITPL Innovative mobile nutrient sensor for fertiliser requirements Currently, fertilisers are applied to crops based on estimations and recommendations rather than actual analysis of soil and plant needs. This often leads to over-fertilisation, reducing crop yields and causing unnecessary expenses and groundwater pollution. To address this, Pessl Instruments GmbH has developed MobiLab, a lab-on-a-chip sensor that can quickly determine the concentrations of key plant nutrients (ammonia, nitrate, phosphate and potassium) in the soil. The technology allows farmers to accurately determine their fields’ fertiliser requirements within minutes. The EU-funded MobiLab project aims to further develop the technology and create a commercialisation strategy for the mobile sensor. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Today the application of fertilisers to agricultural crops is mainly based on calculations, estimations and recommendations and not on analyses of the actual demand of soil and plants. The resulting over-fertilisation has substantial disadvantages: Farmers suffer from reduced yields and unnecessary expenses for fertilisers, groundwater is polluted, surface water bodies are eutrophicated, greenhouse gas is emitted from soils and finite natural fertiliser resources are depleted. It is estimated that up to 35 % of the applied fertiliser could be saved if a method for the quick and simple determination of the fertiliser demand existed.Pessl GmbH, an Austrian SME specialised in the development of innovative products in the field of agricultural monitoring and precision farming, has developed MobiLab, a lab-on-a-chip sensor for the quick on-site determination of the concentrations of the most important plant nutrients (ammonia, nitrate, phosphate and potassium) in the soil, based on the outcomes of the award-winning EU project OPTIFERT. MobiLab will enable farmers to determine the fertiliser requirements of their fields within just a few minutes and without the need for any special knowledge. The proper functioning and the great potentials of the technology have been proven, but further technological developments as well as the finalisation of a commercialisation concept are necessary to achieve the market breakthrough. Based on the outcomes of phase 1 of the project, all necessary steps for a successful market introduction of the MobiLab system will be taken.The MobiLab nutrient sensor will help European farmers to save up to 35 % of their applied fertiliser, leading to total potential annual savings of up to 6 billion € on the EU level. At the same time, Pessl Instruments GmbH will be able to significantly grow in terms of turnover, profit and employees and to further expand its leading position on the world market for precision farming products. Fields of science agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturesustainable agriculturenatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryalkali metalsengineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesmicrotechnologylab on a chipengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorssocial scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementemployment Programme(s) H2020-EU.3.2. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy Main Programme H2020-EU.3.2.4. - Sustainable and competitive bio-based industries and supporting the development of a European bioeconomy H2020-EU.3.2.1. - Sustainable agriculture and forestry H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument H2020-EU.3.2.2. - Sustainable and competitive agri-food sector for a safe and healthy diet Topic(s) SMEInst-07-2016-2017 - Stimulating the innovation potential of SMEs for sustainable and competitive agriculture, forestry, agri-food and bio-based sectors Call for proposal H2020-SMEInst-2016-2017 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-SMEINST-2-2016-2017 Funding Scheme SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2 Coordinator PESSL INSTRUMENTS GMBH Net EU contribution € 911 968,75 Address WERKSWEG 107 8160 Weiz Austria See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Südösterreich Steiermark Oststeiermark Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 302 812,50
