Fredericton agtech company Picketa Systems will be piloting its technology on Ontario farms after winning the Next-Gen Nitrogen Challenge organized by Foresight Canada and the Ontario Soil Network. 

The organizers announced Tuesday that Picketa had won the national competition, which offers the winner a chance to work with early adopters to encourage farmers and agri-businesses to use the young technology. 

Picketa’s LENS platform uses pattern-matching AI to analyze crops' leaf structures to identify 13 nutrient concentrations, helping farmers use just the right amount of fertilizer. Unlike traditional lab testing, which can be slow and costly, the LENS enables instant results, the company has said, allowing growers to make timely, data-driven decisions.

Agriculture accounts for about 10 percent of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions, Foresight Canada said in a statement, with nitrous oxide, primarily from fertilizer use and soil management, a key concern. Accelerating the adoption of technologies that improve nutrient management is essential to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening food security, and positioning Canada as a leader in sustainable agriculture, said the press release.

"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,” said Xavier Hébert-Couturier, CEO of Picketa Systems in the press release.

“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." 

Recently, Picketa announced the addition of canola to its LENS platform. Building on past success with potatoes and corn, Picketa is expanding its support of staple broadacre crops to meet the nutrient management needs of North America’s canola growers, the company said.