OSN Next-Gen Nitrogen Challenge
The OSN is seeking innovative solutions to optimize Ontario farming operations’ nitrogen use efficiency, boost soil health, and enhance farm profitability.
Transforming Nitrogen Management for Sustainable Farming
The Ontario Soil Network (OSN) is seeking agtech solutions to optimize nitrogen efficiency and leverage organic nitrogen pools to improve profitability, soil health, and sustainability in Ontario farms.
Register for WebinarSubmit a SolutionGaining 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 seeks 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 presents a unique opportunity for the challenge winners to collaborate directly with OSN, pilot and refine their solutions across two Ontario farms on various soil types, and gain industry recognition.
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.
A successful solution will:
- 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).
- Potentially be an innovative or an intelligence-based solution that updates and improves current practices (e.g., using AI to create variable rate maps).
- Be cost-effective and easily adoptable for the average field crop grower in Ontario (~1,000 acres).
Considerations and Barriers to Adoption
The Next-Gen Nitrogen Challenge aims 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 need to be addressed for the solution to be successfully adopted:
1
On Farm Trials
Farmers prefer technologies validated through on-farm trials over controlled or greenhouse studies. Product claims must be backed by real-world, on-farm results to gain their trust and encourage adoption.
2
Soil Health Assessments
Assessing soil health is complex, with different methods providing varied results. Transparency, actionability, and comparability are essential. The OMAFRA Soil Health Assessment Protocol is recommended, with a minimum three-year commitment to effectively determine changes in soil health.
3
Peer Learning
Farmer-to-farmer learning is highly effective. Members of OSN are prepared to participate in education and outreach efforts to share their experiences in using successful solutions to encourage widespread adoption.
4
Agronomics Assessments
Every farm across Ontario is unique. Providing tailored agronomic assessments help farmers understand how a solution would fit into their specific farm operations. The farmers in the OSN are systems thinkers–they like to take a holistic, systems-based approach to decisions, even for small changes.
5
Profitability
Profitability in the first year of use is critical to farmers’ adoption decisions. While farmers can recognize and appreciate profitability realized in 3-year terms, short-term gains drive uptake. If the proposed solution requires cooperative management or use through custom operators to be profitable, it should fit into existing management and operational networks.
6
Nutrient Management Plans
Field crop farmers in Ontario are not mandated to have nutrient management plans. If your solution requires a nutrient management plan, be prepared to support farmers through a new and often daunting process. It is advised to account for the associated costs of acquiring a nutrient management plan in the product's profitability.
7
Skilled Labour Shortages
A growing shortage of skilled labour in agriculture poses challenges to implementing soil health and nutrient management best practices. Solutions should include training elements and prioritize simplicity for successful adoption.
8
Fertilizer Consultation Resources
Farmers in Ontario often receive advice on fertilizer application from sales teams, but independent guidance is preferred. Solutions should offer unbiased information on optimal fertilizer rates to build trust and confidence.
9
Address Weather Uncertainties
Farmers face diverse and often unpredictable weather conditions. They need assurances that the proposed solutions will remain effective across varying climates, from droughts to heavy rains and extreme heat.
Evaluation & Eligibility
Profitability for the average field crop farmer in Ontario is a critical factor in the evaluation process. When assessing solutions, priority will be given to those that not only enhance nitrogen management but also contribute to improved soil health. Successful solutions should be easily integrated into current farming practices, requiring minimal skill adjustments or additional training for adoption.
Key eligibility criteria include:
- Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5-8
- Must be able to scale for an average crop operation in Ontario (1000 acres)
- Demonstrate a pathway to greater profitability for the farmer
The Partner
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 Updates
November 18, 2024: Applications open
December 5, 2024: Information webinar
January 17, 2025: Applications close
March, 2025: Winners announced
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.
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