Low-cost, in-field sensors for greenhouse gas emissions from soils in agricultural settings

corn grown in field soil

INTEREST AREA: Enabling Technologies

Science-driven action to address climate change is essential. While the conversation about climate change tends to revolve around carbon dioxide, a number of other gases have potent warming effects. The primary greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture are nitrous oxide and methane, each of which has a warming potential many times that of carbon dioxide. As Corteva Agriscience looks to support farmers who want to adopt practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from soils, the ability to measure multiple greenhouse gases accurately in an in-field, low-cost manner becomes vital.

Instruments that measure greenhouse gases are currently available, but traditional methods utilizing chambers and gas chromatography suffer from low spatial and temporal resolution and require of post-collection, laboratory analyses. Methods employing infrared sensors may be able to provide the desired spatial and temporal resolutions, but typically come at a higher cost. Lowering the cost of GHG measurements, both in terms of labor and equipment, will enhance our understanding of soil GHG emissions and how they can best be managed. 

At Corteva Agriscience, our goal is to develop effective, sustainable, and durable solutions to agricultural challenges. We invite public and private sector scientists and engineers to join in our efforts by submitting proposals to develop and/or demonstrate low-cost, in-field sensors for greenhouse gas emissions from soil in agricultural settings.

Closed

Submission deadline:
November 30, 2022 by 5pm PST 

Who Should Apply

Public and private sector scientists, engineers, institutions and organizations

Funding

Up to $50,000, including a maximum of 10% indirect costs*

  • What Are We Seeking?
  • Who Should Submit?
  • What Can You Expect?
  • How Can We Help?

What Are We Seeking?

We are seeking short, non-confidential proposals for developing concepts to prototype or adapting existing technology for in-field measurements of greenhouse gas emissions from soil. Proposals may be focused on direct measurements as well as highly correlated, ancillary measurements including environmental parameters.

All proposals should include a plan to test sensors in an agricultural field setting at an approximate density of 6 sensors per 100 acres (e.g., 3 soil types, with 2 sensors per soil type). In this environment, sensors will be deployed in standing row crops like corn and soybean or pastureland and exposed to variable weather conditions (e.g., sun, rain, wind, high humidity, etc.).  For this proof-of-concept project, the intention is to collect data that covers the variability of environments within a single field. If successful, sensors would ultimately be deployed over many fields.

Higher technology readiness levels will be prioritized, but novel concept-to-prototype proposals will be considered. Technologies meeting the following qualifications are desired.  

Must haves:

  • able to measure the relative amounts of N2O, CO2, and CH4 with +/- 5% accuracy (as determined by gas chromatography) towards determining greenhouse gas flux emissions (typical ranges for each greenhouse gas emitted from soils in agricultural settings are N2O in ppb, CO2 in ppm, and CH4 in ppm)
  • able to collect aggregated, daily measurements taken entirely on location in an agricultural field
  • field-rugged, water-resistant, durable, for use in field conditions from early spring through late fall 

Nice-to-haves:

  • accurate measurement of N2O (ppb), CO2 (ppm), & CH4 (ppm) +/- 2% (as determined by gas chromatography or equivalent)
  • real-time, point-of-detection measurements, taken once per hour or more frequently to sufficiently estimate flux
  • potential for multiple point measurements from a single instrument (e.g., measurements taken from sensors placed at various heights above the soil and locations within a field) 
  • real-time data reporting, over the air updates, telemetry capable
  • low power consumption, with solar power capability or full season deployment lifetime, able to be redeployed in subsequent growing seasons
  • prototypes/concepts that lead to production scale devices at $1000 or less
  • data-supported use of the proposed technology for greenhouse gas measurements

Approaches not of interest:

  • technologies requiring post-collection processing of samples in a laboratory or other off-site location

Proposals should include:

  • a non-confidential description of the proposed work to develop and evaluate low-cost, in-field sensors for greenhouse gas emissions from soils in agricultural settings
  • any data that support the use of this method for the purpose described 
  • expertise, equipment, and facilities you have and/or need to execute the proposal including field site access for testing
  • description of potential roadblocks to success
  • a high-level timeline to proof of concept, ideally within a 12-18-month period
  • a high-level breakdown of the estimated project cost

Who Should Submit?

  • Scientists and engineers with expertise in gas measurement technologies
  • Researchers or institutions with existing technologies that can be adapted to solve this challenge
  • Public and private sector institutions and organizations with related experience and interest

What Can You Expect?

For submissions received by November 30th @ 5:00 PM PST:

  • We will evaluate your submission and notify you of its status by January 31, 2023.
  • An Open Innovation representative will contact selected finalists to arrange a virtual discussion with Corteva scientists under confidentiality and to provide additional details on the selection process.

For selected proposals: 

  • Submitters will engage with Corteva scientists to develop an agreed upon project plan 
  • Continued interactions with Corteva scientists throughout the project

How Can We Help?

  • Funding (up to $50,000 inclusive of a maximum of 10% indirect costs*)
  • Corteva in-kind resources as applicable (e.g., access to field sites and controlled environments, comparison to existing methods of measurement)
  • Opportunities for extended collaboration and additional funding if successful

* Indirect costs available to academic and nonprofit research institutes only