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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MobiLab (Development of a mobile device for the quick on-site measurement of soil nutrients)

Teaser

Summary

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 (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 some 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 are being taken in the present phase 2.
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 â‚¬ on the EU level. At the same time, Pessl Instruments GmbH will be able to significantly grow in terms of turnover and profit and to further expand its leading position on the world market for precision farming products.

Work performed

The second project periodic report of the H2020 project â€œMobiLabâ€ contains summaries of all activities related to the following WPs starting from the 13th project month up to and including the 24th project month i.e. June 2018 to May 2019.

The situation of the chip supply chain and production, the triggered and further adaptations required in the main device, SW and chemical analysis to make the new chips work properly, and the fact that measurements in winter are of little interest to the farmers, as they do not fertilize their fields during this period, impacted some WPs, as WP1, WP2, WP3, WP5, WP7. Find below the status of each WP:

WP 1: Implementation of technological development needs and improvement potentials. The aim of WP 1 is the development and construction of a final prototype of the MobiLab system. MobiLab system and its SW are being updated in order to make the new chips work properly.

WP 2: Product tests and calibration. In WP 2 the final prototype of the MobiLab system developed in WP 1 will be calibrated by soil analysis laboratories and thereby intensely tested to confirm its proper functioning and ease of use. Corrective action has been taken and PESSL employees have visited many Labs around Europe in order to run the tests and calibrate the MobiLab system.

WP 3: Establishment of a European network of â€žSustainable Agriculture Expertsâ€œ. In WP 3 a European network of independent â€œSustainable Agriculture Expertsâ€ will be established for the promotion and sale of the MobiLab system and further of our products. This distribution network is in the making. First results achieved already.

WP 4: Series production concept. In WP4 all requirements for a series production of the MobiLab system will be planned. These comprise the planning of the production line, of the production facility, of the workforce and of the material supply. All deliverables were submitted in time based on the previous version of MobiLab system. A second and final version of these deliverables might be submitted after the conclusion of WP1 and WP2, considering now the new chip production.

WP 5: Commercialisation concept. In WP 5 concepts for the marketing and for the distribution of the MobiLab system will be developed. The distribution concept was delivered in month 16 and since then many trainings were held in Europe in order to enable partners and distributors to present, sell and support the MobiLab system. The market concept has started before considered in the GA. However, the certifications will be delayed in turn by WP 1 and 2.

WP 6: LCA, CBA & Due Diligence. In WP 6 the economic and environmental performance of the MobiLab system will be assessed in order to enable comparisons with competing solutions. This WP has been extended, i.e. started earlier and ends later. The tasks have been subcontracted and already started.

WP 7: Project management. WP 7 contains the management tasks of the project: project management, management of intellectual knowledge and of the scientific data obtained during the project. This WP is ongoing and permanently improved. Patent application is delayed by WP 1 and 2.

We estimate that with the delays caused by WP 1 and 2 and the chain caused into other WPs the entire project will be concluded in February 2020. Although the overall time was impacted, the overall budget were not affected.

Final results

Beyond the state of the art: The assembly of the chip, including the crucial bonding step, has been facilitated by a novel approach including physical instead of chemical steps. This approach allows for an easy manufacturing.
First market response indicates that the socio-economic impact will develop as predicted in the proposal.