The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur has launched a breakthrough technology titled ‘Soil Nutrient Sensing Device and Method Thereof’ to promote remunerative farming.
For widespread adoption, IIT Kanpur has transferred the transfer to a private sector company, ScaNxt Scientific Technologies.
The Device is a compact, smartphone-compatible innovation that provides real-time soil nutrient analysis, addressing the critical gap in timely soil testing for Indian farmers.
This collaboration sets the stage for a transformative shift in soil health management, equipping farmers with immediate, data-driven insights and promoting sustainable agricultural practices both in India and globally.
Designed for portability and ease, the device can assess multiple soil parameters simultaneously, storing data on a cloud server, with a single charge supporting up to 250 tests.
The pioneering device leverages Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy to deliver instant soil health insights directly to a smartphone, eliminating the need for chemical reagents and complex testing processes.
Prof Jayant Kumar Singh, who led a team of researchers from the Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Kanpur to develop the technology, said it is a culmination of years of research at addressing real challenges farmers face in soil health assessment.
“The device empowers farmers with instant insights and supports the creation of a national soil stack, aiding in better fertiliser management and promoting sustainability,” he added.
The Indian soil testing equipment market, currently valued at $114 million as of 2024, is set for significant expansion.
Driven by an increasing demand for efficient agricultural productivity solutions and climate resilience, this market is projected to reach $146 million by 2030.
Rajat Vardhan, Founder & CEO of ScaNxt Scientific Technologies, said the ‘Made in Bharat’ innovation will be taken to the global markets to empower farmers with actual soil health insights that will transform agricultural practices.
“By combining NIR Spectroscopy, IoT, and AI/ML, we aim to provide farmers with even more precise and actionable data to optimize nutrient management and drive sustainable agricultural growth,” he noted.