Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Microsystems and Solid State Technologies EMFT
Agritechnica 2025: Sensor Solutions for Smart Farming
Visit us at Agritechnica 2025! At the Fraunhofer joint booth in Hall 17, Booth B15, you can get an overview of the broad research portfolio of the seven participating institutes: From digital technologies, intelligent sensor technology, robotics, sustainable energy concepts, and material innovations to data-driven approaches for increasing efficiency and conserving resources in agriculture. At the trade fair, Fraunhofer EMFT will present cutting-edge sensor solutions for modern agriculture that bring together ecology and economy.
Fraunhofer EMFT Highlights at Agritechnica:
Rapid test for early detection of bee-harmful substances
An electrochemical rapid test based on insect cells enables the quantitative, label-free, and fully automated identification of “bee-harmful” pesticides. The insect cells frozen on the electrodes can be stored in large quantities over long periods of time and thawed immediately before the assay is performed.
At Agritechnica, Fraunhofer EMFT is presenting a tabletop device for complete analysis, including cell thawing and sample addition. A precise micropump is used to dispense the pesticide solution without cross-contamination. All settings can be controlled intuitively via a touchscreen. The development contributes to the preservation of biodiversity and enables manufacturers of plant protection products to adapt new formulations as early as the development process.
On-plant sensor technology for plant monitoring
With on-plant sensor technology, conductive structures are applied directly to plant leaves. Thanks to their specific structure, they serve as sensors for plant vitality and for wireless readout of the recorded data.
This method allows the vitality of plants to be monitored efficiently, particularly their water and nutrient content. In addition, a flexible sensor strip is integrated into the plant pot to monitor moisture and temperature data. An active microfluidic extraction unit, based on a piezoelectric micromembrane pump, provides real-time soil data on material flows such as nitrogen, moisture, pH value, and dissolved oxygen.
Environmental measurement station: Innovative technology for greenhouses
The environmental measurement station developed at Fraunhofer EMFT combines gas sensors, soil sensors, and spectral analysis to detect pest infestations at an early stage and create optimal growing conditions for different types of plants. With the help of artificial intelligence, the data obtained can be condensed and pre-processed at the edge. This reduces the amount of data to be transmitted to a compact size.
The integration of modern sensor technologies and wireless communication networks in greenhouses offers enormous potential for efficient and resource-saving pest control and environmental monitoring.