Precision agriculture, an innovative approach to crop and animal production, aims to optimize resources and improve yields by harnessing advanced technologies.

Central to this approach is the integration of sensors, information systems, and data-driven management to monitor variability and unpredictability within agricultural systems. At CNR-INO, a new project is focusing on two promising sensor technologies: the Electronic Nose (EN) and Raman Spectroscopy (RS). The project, SENSEPLANET – Optical and olfactory SENSorial dEvices to investigate PLAnt-microbe iNtEracTions in a model horticultural crop, is funded by MUR PRIN and coordinated by Camilla Baratto, senior researcher at CNR-INO in Brescia. Its goal is to apply and optimize these complementary classes of sensors to advance precision agriculture in crop production.

Why is it important?

By providing detailed insights into plant health and environmental conditions, EN and RS can offer real-time data to support informed decision-making.

In particular, the project will explore how EN and RS can be used to investigate plant-microbe interactions in a model plant—tomato (Solanum lycopersicum).

Understanding these interactions is crucial for improving crop resilience and productivity while minimizing environmental impacts.

Project Objectives

• Apply and optimize Electronic Nose (EN) and Raman Spectroscopy (RS) for precision agriculture in crop production.
• Explore the potential of EN and RS in studying specific plant-microbe interactions in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum).

Who is Participating? 

The project involves a collaboration between the National Institute of Optics (CNR-INO), the University of Brescia (UNIBS) and the Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection of the National Research Council (CNR-IPSP).

This initiative underscores CNR-INO’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge sensor technologies for more sustainable and efficient agricultural practices.

For more information, contact camilla.baratto@cnr.it
Website: https://senseplanet.ino.cnr.it/
The Senseplanet project is funded by the European Union – Next Generation EU.