Sensors and Actuators for Smart Farming

The current nutrition systems are both drivers and victims of ecological changes endangering the agricultural productivity. Long-term retainment of natural resources requires more sustainability in agricultural production including animal farming; economical efficiency, social fairness and ecological viability. A promising and pragmatic approach for combining economic and ecologic goals in food production is the deployment of modern information and communication technologies in agricultural production - also known as smart farming. This is where the Fraunhofer EMFT competences in sensor and actuator technologies enter the scene.

The Fraunhofer EMFT competences provide the basis for our long-term activities for securing the food production and foodstuff quality along the whole value chain. Sensors and actuators offer numerous application possibilities in Smart Farming, for increased productivity whilst at the same time considering the environmental protection.

Our F&E activities in projects in this area include e.g.:

• development of biosensors for detection of diseases caused by plant viruses   
• deployment of micropumps for ammonium sensor systems in animal farming 
• monitoring food quality by integrating gas sensors in food packaging and
• measurement of nitrate concentration in soil using electrochemical sensors.