The Tubersense team , frm left : Prof Darren Reynolds ( UWE Bristol ), Dr Rob Hancock ( James Hutton Institute ), Dr Robin Thorn ( UWE Bristol ), Dr Barbara Correia ( B-hive Innovations ), Prof James Covington ( University of Warwick ), Dr Andrew Gill ( B-hive Innovations ) and Dr David Nelson ( Branston )
Supply chain innovation
Agri-tech innovator ’ s potato disease detection system enters advanced testing phases
Root crop disease and defect monitoring system TuberSense – under development by innovative agri-tech business B-hive Innovations - has entered its next project phase to revolutionise how technology can anticipate issues in tubers before the crop loses its quality and value .
Future Leaders Fellow Dr Barbara Correia secured funding from UK Research and Innovation ( UKRI ) in Summer 2021 , and since then has been conducting the first phase of research , development and testing with the wider project team , including potato producer Branston Ltd and research institutions .
Barbara ’ s initial research to define the link between potato diseases and volatile compounds released by the tubers 8 FDPP - www . fdpp . co . uk was carried out with UWE Bristol and the James Hutton Institute , while the University of Warwick has partnered on the project to develop gas sensors to measure the gases produced .
Following a series of first-phase trials , the R & D sensing system has now been developed to use volatile biomarkers as means of detecting crop diseases and defects that can cripple potato supply chains , including soft rot , dry rot and black heart in potato tubers .
Barbara said : “ The first phase of our research has provided us with tremendous novel insights into the range of diseases and defects that , unless detected early , can enormously compromise the overall quality of the crop that enters the supply chain .
“ Through the first project phase , we have gained a great understanding of which diseases are most distinguishable through the use of gas sensing technologies .
“ Conversely , we have also become more aware of which defects may not be detectable through such means , which already gets us thinking of other ways that we might detect those defects at an early stage .”
To ensure optimal testing conditions , Barbara and the team have been conducting experiments using a mix of field testing with growers alongside semi-controlled trials , including the use of industrial shipping containers .