UPDATES FROM THE WGCIT The Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology was created to link Western Growers members with innovators in the agtech space. Below are news updates from the Center’s startups.
In early November, Agrology launched the first real-time, in-field nitrous oxide (N2O) flux sensor, breaking new ground for climate-smart agriculture. This technology advances efforts by farmers, academics and supply chain partners who are seeking scalable solutions to accurately measure nitrous oxide and other GHG emissions at scale in commercial agriculture. Currently undergoing rigorous in-field validation with experts and partners, the Agrology Nitrous Flux Sensor is available in limited quantities, with a commercial release slated for early 2025. The agricultural sector recognizes its role in N₂O emissions and has sought ways to mitigate them. However, reducing N₂O emissions and achieving accurate impact quantification have been challenging due to the lack of affordable measurement tools. This gap has forced farmers and supply chains to rely on estimated emissions factors. Agrology’s new sensor solves this problem at a fraction of the cost of research-grade equipment. Adam Koeppel, Co-Founder and CEO of Agrology, highlighted the challenge and opportunity: “Accurately measuring N₂O emissions at scale has been a significant barrier, limiting the adoption of practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Our Nitrous Flux Sensor changes that by enabling precise nitrogen application without compromising yield, empowering growers to implement agricultural practices that lower emissions effectively.” Agrology’s innovation demonstrates the practicality and necessity of climate-smart practices and N₂O reduction, paving the way for large-scale agricultural climate mitigation. Key features of the Agrology Nitrous Flux Sensor include: • High Accuracy: Comparable to expensive laboratory-grade equipment, the sensor provides precise real-time N₂O measurements across multiple locations. • Transformative Potential: The sensor revolutionizes measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification (MMRV), reducing dependency on models and estimated emissions factors. • Enhanced Assessment: Farmers and partners can accurately evaluate the emissions impacts of various farming practices and products alongside cost and yield, enabling better decisions at scale. • Empowerment Through Data: Growers can adjust farming practices based on real-time data and report progress on emissions reductions, fostering continuous improvement. • Affordability and Accessibility: Priced for average farmers, the sensors can be deployed across diverse crop types, production systems, and regions, supporting in-field GHG monitoring at scale. • Broad Implications: Access to real-time, high-resolution N₂O data across various systems and practices will expand research and enhance understanding of climate-smart agriculture. More information can be found at agrology.ag/nitrous-oxide. In December, Agrology also shared a year of data from leading regenerative growers. Their end-of-the- year webinar used data to showcase a variety of different regenerative trials and programs for growers. This included data that shows how tillage impacts soil structure, microbial health, soil temperature and the water-holding capacity of soil. Throughout the year, data showed temperature buffering due to no-till practices and showed the differences between herbicide and grazing and its impact on soil carbon flux, a key indicator of soil health. Overall regenerative crops were better insulated from heat spikes throughout the year. Agrology will host additional webinars throughout 2025. Anyone interested in their content can access it at Agrology.ag/webinars.
Agrology
31 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com January | February 2025
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