In a significant step forward for sustainable agriculture, Foresight Canada and the Ontario Soil Network (OSN) have named Picketa Systems as the winner of the Next-Gen Nitrogen Challenge. The Fredericton-based agtech startup impressed judges with its proprietary LENS technology, which delivers real-time, data-driven analysis of plant and soil health to help farmers improve crop yields, reduce fertilizer use, and lower environmental impact.
As part of the win, Picketa Systems will now partner with the Ontario Soil Network to pilot its technology on farms across the province. The pilot project will allow the startup to refine its solution under a range of agricultural conditions while supporting Canada’s broader efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions from farming and boost food system resilience.
“Agriculture is responsible for about 10% of Canada’s GHG emissions, with nitrous oxide from fertilizer use a major contributor,” said Jeanette Jackson, CEO of Foresight Canada. “By accelerating the adoption of innovative nutrient management tools like Picketa’s LENS, we can strengthen food security and establish Canada as a global leader in sustainable farming.”
Picketa CEO Xavier Hébert-Couturier said the LENS system helps farmers make smarter fertility decisions using real-time data. “We’re excited to show how 4R nutrient management can be practically implemented on farms,” he said, referencing the principles of applying the right source of nutrients at the right rate, right time, and right place. “This project will help us complete the sense-prescribe-apply loop for in-season fertility, making it easier for farmers to act based on what their crops actually need.”
The Next-Gen Nitrogen Challenge is part of Foresight Canada’s Innovation Challenge program, which has hosted more than 65 challenges aimed at bridging cleantech innovators with end users in key sectors. The initiative helps overcome the so-called “adoption gap” that many startups face by connecting them directly with industry partners eager to deploy sustainable technologies.