The project involves designing a preliminary architecture for a compact system for detecting nitrates in soils. The preliminary architecture is to integrate UV sources, filters and detectors, and a fiber-optic probe into a compact optomechanical system offering technical, manufacturability, operational and economic feasibility. Real-time nitrate measurement will help reduce groundwater pollution and optimize yields.
For growers, the realization of the project represents a solution that will enable them to improve their productivity (ratio of costs and inputs to yields) and reduce their labor requirements thanks to the automation that comes with the Hortau system for better profits and quality of life.
The social spin-offs are mainly in terms of environmental benefits and quality of life for producers. The economic spin-offs come from the manufacturing and supply of parts, most of which come from Canadian suppliers. All our probes and key Hortau technology devices are manufactured or assembled at our head office in Lévis, Quebec.
