OSN Next-Gen Nitrogen Challenge
The OSN Next-Gen Nitrogen Challenge sought innovative solutions to improve nitrogen efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and support sustainable agriculture. Picketa Systems received industry exposure, secured three pilot projects in Ontario, and successfully demonstrated the environmental and economic benefits of their technology.
WINNER
Picketa Systems
Picketa Systems' LENS technology delivers real-time insights into plant and soil health—helping farmers optimize fertilizer use, reduce emissions, and lower costs, all without sacrificing yield.
Picketa is piloting their solution on Ontario farms in partnership with the OSN, demonstrating real-world impact and advancing the shift to a more efficient, resilient, and sustainable agricultural sector.
PARTNER
Ontario Soil Network (OSN)
As a network of perceptive, innovative, and resourceful farmers, the OSN has been promoting soil health in Ontario agriculture since its founding in 2017. They are focused on environmental and financial sustainability and supporting innovations in agriculture through connection and collaboration with farmers.
The OSN facilitates idea exchanges and collaborates to test and develop innovation to support the betterment of Ontario’s agricultural sector.
Challenge Outcomes
The Ontario Soil Network (OSN) sought agtech solutions to optimize nitrogen efficiency and leverage organic nitrogen pools, thereby improving profitability, soil health, and sustainability on Ontario farms.
Picketa Systems was selected as the winner of the Next-Gen Nitrogen Challenge. Picketa’s Leaf Evaluated Nutrient System (LENS™) is a real-time nutrient analysis system that uses same-day tissue results to guide precision adjustments via drones and autonomous systems, helping to optimize productivity while reducing costs and emissions.
As the winners, Picketa piloted their LENS technology at three pilot sites in Ontario, in partnership with the OSN, and presented it at the AgSmart Educational Expo, which helped them gain industry exposure in Alberta.
Their technology demonstrated that real-time nutrient data could enable precision fertility decisions tailored to each field and crop, helping farmers optimize fertilizer use, boost productivity, and reduce both emissions and costs without compromising yield. The use of LENS has since expanded to potato, corn, and canola crops. Their technology is demonstrating real-world impact and advancing the shift to a more efficient, resilient, and sustainable agricultural sector.
Through the Farmer Innovation and Research Ecosystem (FIRE) the Ontario Soil Network works to bring innovative solutions that contribute to the economic and environmental sustainability of farms. The NextGen Nitrogen Challenge aimed to increase data driven management decisions to improve the use of nitrogen, therefore improving productivity and environmental outcomes. We are looking forward to partnering with Picketa to continue to improve the way nitrogen is managed on farms in Ontario through improved decision-making with real time data.
Lorraine Vandermyden Research & Demonstration Coordinator, Ontario Soils Network
Gaining a better understanding of the complex interactions between plant-available nitrogen and soil health practices is crucial for improving nitrogen use efficiency, reducing nitrogen losses, and enhancing environmental outcomes.
Challenge Statement
The Next-Gen Nitrogen Challenge sought innovative solutions to optimize nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in Ontario farming operations. By focusing on applying the right rate of nitrogen at the right time and leveraging organic nitrogen pools, the goal is to reduce potential nitrogen loss, enhance soil health, and increase on-farm profitability.
Challenge Opportunity
As a key initiative of OSN, this challenge presented a unique opportunity for the challenge winner to collaborate directly with OSN, pilot and refine their solutions across two Ontario farms on various soil types, and gain industry recognition.
Challenge Background
Nitrogen is a key indicator of soil health and an essential nutrient for plant growth. It plays a critical role in fertilizers used to maintain and increase crop yields. Currently, NUE is extremely low, with only about half of the applied nitrogen being absorbed by plants. This inefficiency leads to excessive fertilizer use, resulting in increased greenhouse gas emissions (nitrous oxide), negative impact on water quality, and higher cost for farmers.
Implementing soil health practices like cover cropping, adding organic amendments, and increasing soil organic matter can improve nutrient cycling and increase organic nitrogen levels in the soil. However, accurately measuring this additional nitrogen and predicting its availability for plants remains a challenge. Gaining a better understanding of the complex interactions between plant-available nitrogen and soil health practices is crucial for improving NUE and reducing nitrogen losses, enhancing environmental outcomes, and increasing farmers’ return on investment.
The Next-Gen Nitrogen Challenge is a chance for us to showcase how the LENS can improve outcomes by changing how fertility decisions are made in agriculture. With real-time nutrient data, we can help improve nitrogen use efficiency, reduce input costs, and support strong yields with some of the most forward-thinking farmers in Ontario. We’re excited to show how 4R nutrient management can practically be implemented on your farm through case studies, while also testing new precision application tools and methods. This project helps us complete the sense-prescribe-apply loop for in-season fertility for all nutrients, making it easier for farmers to take action based on what their crops actually need.
Xavier Hébert-Couturier CEO, Picketa Systems
Considerations and Barriers to Adoption
The Next-Gen Nitrogen Challenge aimed to support Ontario-based farmers in adopting cleantech solutions to address sustainability hurdles. Improved NUE is a primary focus due to its potential to increase farmers' net profits while reducing emissions. Below are the key barriers that needed to be addressed for the solution to be successfully adopted:
- On-farm trials
- Soil health assessments
- Peer learning
- Agronomics assessments
- Profitability
- Nutrient management plans
- Skilled labour shortages
- Fertilizer consultation resources
- Address weather uncertainties
Eligibility
Successful solutions:
- Enhance data-based decision-making regarding nitrogen application timing and rates.
- Add value to soil health practices by quantifying and leveraging organic nitrogen sources (e.g., cover crops, organic amendments).
- Are cost-effective and easily adoptable for the average field crop grower in Ontario (~1,000 acres).
- Demonstrate a pathway to greater profitability for the farmer.
- Can be easily integrated into current farming practices, requiring minimal skill adjustments or additional training for adoption.
Challenge Updates
April 8, 2025: Winner announced
January 17, 2025: Applications closed
December 5, 2024: Information webinar held
November 18, 2024: Applications open
Our Partners
The OSN Next-Gen Nitrogen Challenge is run with support from our agriNEXT program, and funded by with support from RBC Foundation and Farm Credit Canada.
Find Market-Ready Innovation without the Risk
We connect industry with the world's best clean technologies. From agriculture to water to oil and gas, our Challenge program works to connect end-users with cleantech solutions to overcome sustainability and operational hurdles.