Descripción del proyecto
Un innovador sensor móvil de nutrientes para necesidades de fertilizantes
En la actualidad, los fertilizantes se aplican a los cultivos basándose en estimaciones y recomendaciones y no en análisis reales de las necesidades del suelo y las plantas. Esto a menudo conduce a un exceso de fertilización, lo que reduce el rendimiento de los cultivos y provoca gastos innecesarios y la contaminación de las aguas subterráneas. Para solucionar este problema, la empresa Pessl Instruments GmbH ha creado MobiLab, un sensor de laboratorio en un chip capaz de determinar rápidamente las concentraciones de nutrientes clave para las plantas (amoníaco, nitrato, fosfato y potasio) en el suelo. Esta tecnología permite que los agricultores determinen con precisión las necesidades de fertilizantes de sus campos en cuestión de minutos. El equipo del proyecto MobiLab, financiado con fondos europeos, pretende seguir desarrollando la tecnología y crear una estrategia de comercialización del sensor móvil.
Objetivo
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.
Ámbito científico
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturesustainable agriculture
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryalkali metals
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesmicrotechnologylab on a chip
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- social scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementemployment
Programa(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
Convocatoria de propuestas
Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoriaConvocatoria de subcontratación
H2020-SMEINST-2-2016-2017
Régimen de financiación
SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2Coordinador
8160 Weiz
Austria
Organización definida por ella misma como pequeña y mediana empresa (pyme) en el momento de la firma del acuerdo de subvención.