Source: SENSIT VENTURES, INC. submitted to
A PROGRAMMABLE SENSOR PLATFORM TO MITIGATE CROP LOSS CAUSED BY POST-HARVEST DISEASE IN POTATO.
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
SMALL BUSINESS GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1019508
Grant No.
2019-33610-29748
Cumulative Award Amt.
$106,200.00
Proposal No.
2019-00623
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jul 1, 2019
Project End Date
Feb 28, 2021
Grant Year
2020
Program Code
[8.13]- Plant Production and Protection-Engineering
Project Director
Turpen, T.
Recipient Organization
SENSIT VENTURES, INC.
720 OLIVE DRIVE, SUITE B
DAVIS,CA 956164740
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Agriculture sustains a growing human population but comes with an enormous environmental burden. It is therefore imperative to do more with less. Precision systems have great potential to integrate high quality information with production, storage and distribution practices to improve efficiencies. Because an estimated 30-40% of the calories produced are ultimately not consumed, a major priority is to mitigate waste. SensIT has developed an inexpensive but powerful miniature chemical sensor that can detect trace gases in the environment. As an important economic demonstration, we aim to use this device to reduce the estimated $100MM dollar loss of the annual potato crop to disease after the crop is harvested.
Animal Health Component
20%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
20%
Developmental
80%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
5031310202080%
7121310100020%
Knowledge Area
712 - Protect Food from Contamination by Pathogenic Microorganisms, Parasites, and Naturally Occurring Toxins; 503 - Quality Maintenance in Storing and Marketing Food Products;

Subject Of Investigation
1310 - Potato;

Field Of Science
2020 - Engineering; 1000 - Biochemistry and biophysics;
Goals / Objectives
SensIT Ventures, Inc. (SensIT) is commercializing a novel chemical sensor platform that combines low-cost and high-performance features required for precision agriculture and post-harvest applications. The miniature chemical sensor platform is a fundamentally new type of ion mobility spectrometer that runs on low power DC voltage such as a common 9V battery. In this Phase I proof-of-concept proposal, our goal is to custom build and calibrate gas phase sensors to provide an early warning of potato rot in the post-harvest supply chain as a first commercial example of the device utility and value.In prior published work, unique volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been identified to be emitted from tubers infected with three major potato pathogens: Phytophthora infestans (late blight), Fusarium coeruleum (dry rot) and Pectobacterium carotovorum (soft rot). To demonstrate technical feasibility, our Phase I objectives are to measure the detection thresholds levels necessary to identify each VOC from within this panel of candidate biomarkers.
Project Methods
In this Phase I work, a set of standard chemical dilutions will be prepared for each of the VOCs of interest and standard calibration curves will be measured using an ultraviolet ionization source and the SensIT proprietary high asymmetric longitudinal field ion mobility spectrometer chip. Phase I testing will be done by interfacing the device with a lab-based control system, such as LabVIEW software and hardware for interpretation of the resulting dispersion plots. Within the lab, environmental factors and other variables such as relative humidity, temperature and carrier gas composition, flowrate and drift tube velocity within the microchannel will be precisely controlled. Ultimately, a library of voltage parameters will be developed to identify the corresponding chemicals and allow for their detection under different controlled conditions to optimize selectivity and sensitivity. Once the library is developed in the lab settings, a control system will be developed to allow for a mobile system interface. This will be a streamlined version which can control parameters within the ranges observed to be most beneficial for detection of the compounds of interest.

Progress 07/01/19 to 02/28/21

Outputs
Target Audience:Controlled environment facilities for post-harvest storage of commodity crops - owners and operators. Changes/Problems:We originally proposed to fabricate ½IMS die from borosilicate glass wafers utilizing traditional cleanroom processes and photolithography. Our access to the Center for Nano and Micro Manufacturing (CNM2) at University of California, Davis was unpredictable during the Covid-19 pandemic. After a significant search for alternatives, we negotiated a contract with a world-class commercial foundry, and began a design iteration process with their team. Our Phase I proposal labor supported this effort; however, we used outside funding to purchase the chips. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One STEM-OPT scientist employed. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Yes, by direct communication with industry stakeholders. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Based on strong commercial interest and technical success, we have submitted a Phase II SBIR proposal.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? During our Phase I proof-of-concept feasibility study, we have built and tested a laboratory ½IMS chemical sensor system and demonstrated levels of detection of compounds relevant to environmental sampling in potato storage facilities for post-harvest rot. Additionally, and beyond the scope of our original Phase I proposal, we tested our µPC chip in the field. We captured a rich panel of biomarkers from commercial potatoes stored for 6 months under high quality conditions - a stable baseline for a nearly optimal storage site. For both µPC and ½IMS chips, we sourced two international commercial foundries for future contract manufacturing. We co-developed and transferred know-how and fabrication designs appropriate for their industrial scale tooling, received and successfully tested our first commercial lots of each chip.

Publications


    Progress 07/01/19 to 06/30/20

    Outputs
    Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems:At the end of FY2019 our projected spending and level of effort was as originally budgeted with minor modifications to named key personnel. Therefore, we do not project any significant unobligated funds will remain at the scheduled NCE date. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The objective of this Phase I project is to calibrate the sensitivity of a novel chemical sensor to candidate biomarkers that will be used in Phase II to provide an early warning for the presence of the predominant post-harvest rot pathogens of stored processing potatoes. The laboratory testing system is almost completed but we will likely need more time to prepare standard curves to the chemicals of interest. More importantly, we have an opportunity, in collaboration with an industry partner (Simplot), to sample commercial storage facilities during the next fall/winter season at our expense. These data will greatly improve the feasibility of deploying our prototypes and enhance the quality of our Phase II proposal and prospects for commercial success.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? SensIT has nearly completed building the prototype device to detect biomarkers of interest, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the system to calibrate the sensitivity to these chemicals. The laboratory prototype is composed of three stages: sampling, hardware and software. The VOCs are introduced via the sampling stage where they are ionized and sent into the hardware for processing. In the hardware stage, the ionized gases are passed through the HALF-IMS chip housed in a custom, airtight, 3Dprinted enclosure. The signals obtained from the electrodes of the chip are processed through custom built printed circuit boards (PCBs) and sent via the PXI system (a highperformance modular system that we use for signal processing) to the software stage. These PCBs were designed to precisely align with the positioning of the inlet and outlet of the chip and improve accuracy and precision of the signals received from the electrodes. LabVIEW software interfaces with PXI and other hardware for data processing to provide measurements and generate dispersion plots. The standard calibration curves for VOCs are created using a combination of LabVIEW and MATLAB. Software files for data processing and other know-how has been received from our University collaborators through appropriate Material Transfer and Licensing Agreements. The system is 80% completed and we aim to start producing the standard curves for VOCs within a month.

    Publications