Thanks to this SME Instrument Phase 1 and the grant obtained, we have been able to dedicate a valuable time searching for information and data, analysing them, and carrying out an internal reflection on the feasibility of our BIOMAP2SOIL project. From it, we have obtained interesting results that we will apply to the next steps to be taken. In this brief summary, we will review the conclusions for each task:
T.1. Market study update: All the market studies and reports analysed during this task have shown that precision agriculture is becoming an indispensable solution for agriculture to face the key current and future challenges: climate change effects, increase in global population and food needs, scarcity of natural resources and reduction of margins in agriculture. The growth of precision agriculture markets and soil mapping forecasts during the period of launch and penetration of the BIOMAP2SOIL service (2023-2027) are remarkable.
Additionally, within this task, two specific aspects have been specially worked on: the study of the most suitable exploitation scheme and the search for potential distributors, which we have called our “Authorised Providers” in the target geographical markets.
T.2. Freedom to Operate (FtO), IPR and Legal issues: An analysis has been carried out for the Freedom to Operate. Although we have found a growing trend towards innovation in technologies and solutions related to agricultural soil mapping, no current patent means a potential risk, since none includes the major novelty of our service, which is the incorporation of the biological studies. We have also analysed the legal regulations applicable internationally to our services, especially those related to data protection and exploitation.
T.3. Technical Work Plan: Considering this first technical conclusions, we are totally confident in the generation of “bio-maps” of both pathogen and beneficial microorganisms on a determined field, taking as first reference the electrical conductivity parameters and, consecutively, other physic-chemical parameters to enhance our disponible current developed instrument called “MAP2SOIL”. A complete Technical Work Plan has been issued, to face the transition from a TRL6 stage to TRL9. 5 WPs has been drafted, together with a first approach to the budget, which is around 1.49M€ for a 2-year period (2021-2022).
T.4. Business Plan: We have made a comprehensive Business Plan for BIOMAP2SOIL, where we not only address the results and profitability of BIOMAP2SOIL business line by itself, but also its contribution to the overall Greenfield Technologies economic and commercial evolution. We have updated the sales forecasts and the profit and loss preliminary accounts. Finally, for the period 2023-2027 we consider accumulated sales of 65.72M euros and an accumulated profit of 12.49M euros.