Innovation in Polish agriculture
European Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas
Title of the operation: Scan Spectrum - innovation in Polish agriculture
The project is co-financed by the European Union under the ‘Cooperation’ measure of the
Rural Development Programme 2014-2020
Contract number: 00080.DDD.6509.00282.2022.03
Budget of the operation: PLN 6,642,692.78
Grant amount: PLN 5 080 975.00, including EAFRD funds of PLN 3 233 024.29, national public funds of PLN 1 847 950.61.
Project Summary
The purpose of the operation is to develop improved organizational and technological innovations in the field of plant research and translation of the results into precision in the use of fertilizers and optimization of the plant development environment. The operation will produce a measuring device that will collect data on plant nitrogen abundance, plant moisture and stress index based on spectrophotometry technique. A solution will be produced that will allow automatic generation of maps for precise fertilization on the basis of the corrected nitrogen demand index of plants. In addition, with the help of the innovation, it will be possible to collect data such as plant moisture and the amount of dry matter, allowing to determine the optimal date for harvesting corn for silage.
Activities Description
The project will be carried out in 5 stages. Each member of the consortium will carry out a series of activities leading to the creation of innovations as a result of research and development work. The main tasks will include support for plant sampling and subsequent analysis, conducting appropriate agrotechnology and internal cooperation, as well as the purchase of the necessary equipment and machinery to carry out the operation. The consortium members undertake to implement the project in accordance with its methodology and objectives.
Project Summary
The need for the implementation of the operation is justified by the results of scientific research within the meaning of Article 4. Paragraph 2 of the Law of July 20, 2018 Law on Higher Education and Science. Scientific research clearly indicates the need for solutions to determine the supply of nutrients to plants, which makes it possible to adjust the agrotechnical treatments carried out to the current needs of crops and, as a result, achieve optimal yields. In this regard, the ability to determine the abundance of nitrogen in the plant under study is crucial, in addition to determining the amount of water in the plant and the potential occurrence of stresses in the plant. The implementation of equipment with specific analytical capabilities can have a significant impact on reducing pollution caused by unabsorbed excess nutrients used in fertilizers. The measurements obtained will be able to be used to create maps used for precise fertilization.
The planned operation is very much in line with the Common Agricultural Policy in terms of competitive, low-carbon, climate-friendly and climate-resilient solutions by focusing on the generation of innovations related to the creation and improvement of technological and organizational innovations centered around the optimization of the basic resources used in agriculture and shaping yields - fertilizers and water. Optimization of resources has many positive effects, both for the farmer and the economy as a whole - fertilizers are applied only as much as they are needed, which reduces financial costs for the farmer and non-financial environmental costs. As a result, the same amount of agricultural crops can be obtained while using fewer resources to produce them. Optimal use of resources is part of the concept of sustainable agriculture.
Mistakes made during silage production cannot be corrected later, so appropriate measures must be carried out at every stage of production, including during harvesting. Thus, the innovation that is the subject of the operation can contribute to increasing the profitability of farms while reducing their negative impact on the environment. It will also allow harmonious use of the resources on which agriculture depends.
Additional information
As a result of the research, algorithms will be developed to significantly improve the efficiency of precision agriculture.
The algorithms will make it possible to create fertilization maps and control the amount of dry matter in corn. They can be used in decision support systems or ERP systems used on large farms. In addition to their scientific value, the algorithms can be used in many private entities. In the face of tightening fertilizer policies, they will positively influence the reduction of nitrogen fertilizers used. The algorithms will also affect the quality of forage produced on farms by allowing the timing of corn harvest to be determined based on dry matter content. The assumptions will have a positive impact on the economic ranges of the farm, due to the reduction of costs associated with selecting the appropriate amount of fertilizer used to fertilize the crop, and will assist farms producing corn silage. The application will be designed to assist the user in deciding when to harvest corn based on determining the appropriate dry matter ratio in the plant. The algorithms will find their use with manufacturers of fertilizer spreaders and agricultural machinery equipped with terminals. This could be an important boost for Polish manufacturers of agricultural machinery and the development of precision farming, as many of them are just entering the stage of offering machinery based on precision farming systems, and the demand for such solutions is growing rapidly.
Benefits
The operation is expected to result in the implementation of improved innovations in technology, and methods of organization. The main benefit of the operation will be the ability for agricultural producers to use maps for precision fertilization. Producers will also be able to manage processes related to corn silage production with a digital approach.
The main benefits for end users are reduced production costs, reduced management costs, reduced environmental costs (fertilizer use and greenhouse gas emissions) and increased marketing positioning. The totality of these activities translates into increased levels of innovation in the agricultural industry in Poland and increased levels of environmental protection and climate change mitigation.
Expected results
Implementation of the operation will culminate in the development of a practical digital solution that can be successfully applied by the farmer. Digitization of agricultural processes carries the potential to increase farm productivity, while affecting the sustainability of the agricultural sector both economically and ecologically. They are based on data sets that are processed for the purposes required on the farm. The operation includes the creation of a measuring device to read the nitrogen index corrected for the plant's stress index and moisture level. On the basis of the index, it will be possible to create precise maps that the farmer will be able to use when implementing precise agrotechnical measures. This will be a digital solution that will allow the farmer, among other things, to apply the optimal dose of fertilizer.
The measuring apparatus that is the subject of the operation will make it possible to determine the optimal date for harvesting corn for silage.to-use and familiar elements. Therefore, special attention will be paid to the field of user experience (UX). Thanks to the use of digital form, the data will be mobile and the costs of implementation on the farm will be low. The use of a digital solution in the form of maps will allow the farmer using it to optimize the use of fertilizers and maximize yields while maintaining high quality products. The use of the optimal dose of fertilizer will translate directly into the economic result of farms.r plant moisture data, among other things. As a result, the farmer will have precise plant nutrition data in the form of a map. By using a digital solution to support the process of managing the corn silage harvest, the farmer will be able to achieve greater benefits in yield efficiency as well as protein content of the silage feedstock, which will affect the profitability of the crop.
Justification of the need to implement the project
The implementation of the operation is extremely important from the point of view of the development of precision farming in Poland. The market of digital services for agriculture should grow at a rate of over 13% annually, being the fastest growing branch of the agri-food industry. Modern agriculture relies heavily on modern machinery. Agrotechnical treatments, including fertilization, have long been mechanized, but continuous technical progress allows for increasing the accuracy of fertilizer application. Thanks to the electronics in the machines, the autonomy of treatments becomes very high and farmers can thus improve the profitability of production, thus increasing its scale and reducing the production inputs per unit of yield. An essential element for determining the doses of fertilizers is to determine the soil fertility and the nutritional status of plants (Walczykova 20212). With the increase of the field area, the costs of diagnostics increase, because modern equipment for sampling and fertilizer application is needed (Carter and Gregorich 2008). The methods used so far may mean a deterioration in the accuracy of the obtained result, which is why they should give way to new technologies such as a mobile spectrophotometer, leaf color scanners, aerial analysis of soil types.
Thanks to these devices, it is possible to precisely determine the minimum number of samples and their location based on the variability of soil fertility in the field. The need to implement the project is based on two pillars - the requirements to reduce the use of fertilizers and plant protection products in agricultural production, which results from the Farm to Fork policy under the Green Deal - European farmers are obliged to reduce the amount of fertilizers and pesticides used by 50% by 2030. Reducing the resources used while maintaining the correct level of production requires a detailed, precise approach to the management of agricultural production and the selection of the dose of fertilizer, which will be facilitated by the innovations created under the application. One of the Green Deal programs is the Horizon Europe programme, whose mission in the field of soil health and food is to develop solutions to restore soil health and function. The acquired knowledge and innovations are also to contribute to the scale-up of agroecological approaches in primary production in the field of agroecology. The effect of these actions is to reduce the use of pesticides, fertilizers and antimicrobials. As part of program development.
The Commission is working with Member States to strengthen the role of the European Innovation Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture (EIP-AGRI) in the Strategic Plans. Ideas for precise fertilization and environmental protection are the result of market research and consultations with many farmers, entrepreneurs and corporations. Also, scientific publications on water pollution, with an emphasis on nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural sources, and directions of activities for their protection, may be the basis for justifying the need to carry out operations related to investments in the creation of new or improvement of existing precision farming solutions. This was presented in a presentation prepared by dr hab. Stefan Pietrzak: “Conducting activities aimed at protecting water against pollution with nutrients dispersed from agricultural sources, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, is a formal and legal obligation in Poland, and is also a real need. In the formal and legal order, the requirement to conduct activities in this area results in particular from such documents as: Nitrates Directive; the water framework directive; Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Helsinki Convention.”
Environmental protection is currently one of the priorities of EU policy and one of the most important challenges. The principles of environmental protection and care for the condition of public goods are increasingly required by law. With regard to agricultural activity, there are also requirements regarding the functioning of farms (cross-compliance). The project results from the need to reduce environmental pollution with the excess of nitrogen fertilizers used, reduce CO2 emissions to the environment and optimize the costs associated with incorrectly selected fertilizer doses and the resulting side effects.
Developing the main goal and specific goals
The main objective of the operation is to produce improved organizational innovations and technology in the field of plant research and the translation of results on the precision of the use of fertilizers and the optimization of the plant development environment. As part of the operation, measuring equipment will be manufactured, which, based on the spectrophotometry technique, will collect data on the nitrogen content of plants, plant moisture and stress index. Unlike the equipment currently available on the market, this device will transmit information and collect data to the cloud due to direct connection to a mobile device. Thanks to this, it will be possible to read the corrected nitrogen indicator o stress and moisture index of the plant during its vegetation without the need for analog data recording. A solution will be developed to automatically generate maps for precise fertilization based on the corrected rate of plant nitrogen demand. These maps will be used in machine terminals adapted to analyze digital data in order to apply precise doses of fertilizers. In addition, using the apparatus, it will be possible to collect data such as plant moisture and the amount of dry matter, to determine the optimum date for maize harvest for silage. The main objective is to translate into improved farm performance in terms of production profitability, increase environmental protection and climate change mitigation as well as support production high-quality forage on the farm.
The specific goals are to create a solution that allows you to create maps of the condition of plants, maps of nitrogen content in plants, automatic generation of maps of fertilization needs and humidity, improving the effectiveness of the fertilization process, innovations consisting in improving the determination maize harvest dates for silage. The qualitative change can be verified by the ability to automatically create a map of plant moisture and fertilization needs on the basis of data obtained non-invasively from the plant. These maps will be used in such devices such as a fertilizer spreader or a tractor with a terminal that allows you to process digital data using a divided fertilization dose. This will have a significant impact on reduction of fertilizer doses and equalization of yield in terms of quality. Having maps of the health of the plants will also allow you to pay attention to parts of the field which differ in properties from the rest of the field. Thanks to this, the farmer can take action to improve soil fertility conditions in the selected part of the field. By carrying out the measurements, the user receives the results allowing the selection of the appropriate date for harvesting maize for silage, based on the content dry matter in the plant. This will translate into improving the silage process and improving properties quality feed. The device will allow us to carry out these tests without having to taking samples for weighing or delivery to the laboratory. QED will provide the final result, which will be saved in a form that allows saving directly to the cloud, thanks to which the user will have a ready database of results available on his device, with the possibility of downloading them for processing or sharing.
Improved technological innovation concerns: fertilization, determination of corn dry matter and technical development of the tool. Distinctive qualitative features this innovation will be new or improved data calibration coefficients for crops, new calibration factors for n-testers currently available on the market, new or improved technological solutions in the form of tools for measuring plant parameters. Finally, a tool will be created that will give us the ability to create fertilization maps using improved calibration indicators and measurement data. The device will also allow you to obtain data on the dry matter content of corn. These data will be used on farms producing maize silage. All data collected during tests with the QED device are transferred directly to the cloud. On the market, only the Multispeq fluorimeter can transmit data via bluetooth. Thanks to the USB connection, QED can provide high speed spectral data transfer and compatibility even with older devices. The device will be used without having to stop testing due to external power supply. Most competing products have built-in cells that require charging, which makes measurements impossible. In the case of QED, we will be able to connect more energy banks and continue research without the risk of losing previous results. All the features contained in the QED device are intended to make the user finally able to reduce the costs associated with nitrogen fertilization of your crops, which will translate into improvement of farm economics and will have an impact on limiting leakage excess fertilizers into the environment. The device will also allow you to increase the properties silage, which will translate into better economic results of the farm.
In conclusion, the technological innovation is based on the creation of a handheld operating device on improved correction factors for an improved way of reading the nitrogen content and water in the plant based on a trained set of spectral data. In practice, this means that the tool will be created together with the measurement software allowing for free measurement of plants and export of read data to mobile devices and cloud in a much more process- and cost-effective way compared to existing tools. The tool will have the following features and functionalities: non-invasive measurements on the plant, the ability to automatically store data, the ability to read many parameters with one device, ease of use combined with a small size of the device and minimizing operator error with spectrophotometric measurements.
Improved organizational innovation consists in improving the organization of fertilization processes and fodder production. Currently available on the market devices for testing nitrogen content, are not able to guarantee the direct creation of a fertilizer map for a given plot with the possibility use it in machines adapted to given solutions, such as: fertilizer spreader or a tractor with a terminal. Maps will be created based on the results of the tested plants, which will minimize the use of fertilizer, thus maximizing production efficiency. This tool will function using a mobile device that will be its own direct power source. The connection via the USB port will guarantee fast transfer data directly to a chosen cloud location, eliminating the need for manual recording results as well as there is no need to export data from the device to a computer, QED is the only such device on the market in this aspect. The device enables the farmer to investigate a representative sample of leaves in the same way as is done to study their chemical composition, without the need to take samples to the laboratory. Maintaining regularity in monitoring fields allows not only to estimate precise fertilization doses but also allows us determine the occurrence of plant stresses such as: water stress, diseases or light stress. Early diagnosis of the occurrence of stresses will allow us to focus on examining the exposed parts crops and take actions adequate to the existing needs. In addition, the device stands out the ability to determine the dry matter content in a maize plant. The test results will be had a significant impact on making decisions regarding the date of plant harvest in when the dry matter ratio in the plant is optimal. This will translate into improvement the quality of chaff ensilage in silos and will allow for obtaining very good fodder nutritional properties. Thus, the device becomes the only portable technology on the market helping in making decisions regarding the harvest of maize for silage at the right stage. This has a significant impact on increasing the nutritional properties of the feed and the efficiency of the farm. This innovation will allow the user to increase organizational and decision-making effects in on his farm by setting fertilization doses defined for specific areas of demand by the plants as well as determine the optimal harvest dates for maize for silage.
