SBIR Phase II: Novel Spectroscopy for the Early Detection of Crop Afflictions

NSF Award Search · 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $1,249,394 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is focused on the continued development of the first high-throughput assessment tool of crop health based on hyperspectral imagery that is suitable for vehicle-mounted field deployment. This technology will support crop growers in making data-driven decisions for efficient water and fertilizer management and in the control of crop diseases. By enabling early and accurate diagnosis of crop stress—crucial for the timely and targeted use of amendments, irrigation, and crop protection—this technology supports farmers in making data driven decisions, reducing crop losses from disease and other afflictions. As a result, farmers benefit from improved yields and lower input costs, including reduced use of fungicides and fertilizers. For consumers, the proposed technology can lead to increased availability of healthier produce by reducing the use of fungicides and improving the economic viability of small farms. The intellectual merit of this project centers around a dual-detector system that overcomes the tradeoff between spectral versus spatial resolution currently faced by existing optical scanning technology by sensing a single spectrum representative of the average signal across an entire image. This system has been adapted into an embeddable, portable spectrometer that combines fast, calibrated, non-contact data and control systems with artificial intelligence models to enable in

Key facts

NSF award ID
2522042
Awardee
ADVANCED GROWING RESOURCES INC. (NY)
SAM.gov UEI
TA8TQ6JDRQN5
PI
Francis R Pellegrino
Primary program
01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
Instr Rsrch,Metro&Std NanTech
Estimated total
$1,249,394
Funds obligated
$1,249,394
Transaction type
Cooperative Agreement
Period
09/15/2025 → 08/31/2027