Commercial production of lowbush blueberry in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Quebec (Canada) and Maine (US) is known to be susceptible to a serious fungal disease, called Monilinia blight, which causes significant economic loss annually. A team of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) researchers developed a technology in the form of an apparatus that can be used to effectively predict the risk of infection in fields. The apparatus functions with an algorithm that accurately indicates the state of infection or risk of infection caused by wetness as captured by a moisture sensor. AAFC requests proposals for the technology to be licensed, with exclusive rights to enhance and commercialize the technology.

This technology will be attractive to manufacturers who:

• have manufacturing capabilities of small plastic and metal parts;
• have excellent knowledge of the existing agricultural production, marketing systems, sales and infrastructure in the region; and
• can incorporate the sensor and the algorithm with a remote communication software, in a self-contained unit.

Benefits to Growers:

Timely disease control -
Blight infection in blueberry occurs on the small developing buds in early spring. It is triggered by wetness caused by rain, dew or wet snow. The presence of infection and/ or risk of infection can be monitored by the accurate and timely assessment of the duration of wetness.

Monitoring of surface wetness of the buds is effective and assessment of such wetness duration is reliable with the use of the moisture sensor. These are made possible by its structural design and its functional relationship with an infection algorithm, enabling detection of infection or risk of infection. Timely detection means prompt fungicide spray application to affected fields. Thus, the onset and spread of the damaging disease are prevented.

Cost-effective, healthy crops and environmentally-friendly -
A single forecast spray is found to be adequate. It is, thus, cost-effective to use this moisture sensor because it saves the need for a second non-knowledge-based and often poorly-timed fungicide application. Over a large acreage, considerable savings can be realized. Most importantly, reduced frequency of sprays means less risk of harm to the pesticide applicator and environment, as well as better-quality crops.

Better crop management in aging fields -
Some blueberry fields in the different regions are 75-80 years of age. The blight pathogen is inherent in many of these fields and is thus always present, as these crops are perennial. The use of this apparatus can be a preventive measure against perpetuating the disease, as well as against spreading it to nearby farms.

Request for Proposals (RFP) -

• AAFC invites proposals, in the official language (English or French) of your choice, for licensing rights for enhancement and commercialization of the blueberry moisture sensor in Canada.
• Proposals must be submitted in duplicate, sealed, marked as “URGENT and CONFIDENTIAL” and sent to the Contact in Commercialization Matters specified below.
• Proposals will be accepted until 4:30 pm Maritime Time on July 31, 2007. A Review Committee will assess the proposals that meet the AAFC requirements. Proponents will be notified of the results of the review in writing.
• Proposals that satisfy the conditions and requirements set in the GUIDELINES for the SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS will be assessed, on a percentage basis, against the criteria set in the said guidelines. These guidelines will be made available, together with this notice, during the entire RFP period.

For Inquiries -

RESEARCH/ TECHNICAL MATTERS:
Dr. Paul Hildebrand
Atlantic Food and Horticultural Research Centre
Agricultre and Agri-Food Canada
32 Main Street, Kentville
Nova Scotia, Canada B4N 1J5
Ph: (902) 679-5716
Fx: (902) 679-5784
Email: hildebrandp@agr.gc.ca

COMMERCIALIZATION MATTERS:
Dr. Gilda L. Javellana
Office of Intellectual Property and Commercialization
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Atlantic Food and Horticultural Research Centre
32 Main Street, Kentville
Nova Scotia, Canada B4N 1J5
Ph: (902) 690-2070
Fx: (902) 679-5784
Email: javellanag@agr.gc.ca

Potential for Commercial Enhancement & Adding Value:

Remote communications -
Customarily remote in location, blueberry fields are often near forested areas that are geographically situated at different terrains exhibiting different micro-climatic conditions. Information, on the wetness of the fields, that is made available regularly at the convenience of the growers’ home location, is beneficial in the timely control of this damaging disease. In this light, a remote communications technology attached to the moisture sensor is potentially capable of enhancing such usefulness of the apparatus.

Other farming techniques, other crops -
The technology, when incorporated with a remote or satellite communications system, can lead to the development of other farming techniques in which the precision of measuring environmental parameters over large production areas within a limited duration of time is integral to obtaining successful economic returns. Further, the technology may also be adapted for use to other crops, e.g., apple, potato and strawberry, because the sensors can attach well to broad-leafed crops.

territory: Canada

Basic technology comprising moisture sensor and algorithm

For more information contact:
Ted Carr
850 Lincoln Rd.
PO BOX 20280
Fredericton, NB E3B 4Z7
ph: (506) 452-4881
fx: (506) 452-3316