About

The BioSenseInnovations NSF Global Center is dedicated to tackling global challenges in nitrogen management, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and their interactions in relation to sustainable agriculture. It develops sensor technologies that can detect nutrients, chemical compounds, soil microbiomes, and GHGs. Collecting these data in real time is essential for advancing precision agriculture and promoting sustainable practices. The center aims to study soil, microbes, and plants interactions through innovative technologies to help farmers manage their crops more effectively and sustainably. The transdisciplinary team includes experts in physics, chemistry, engineering, omics, microbiology, and metabolic engineering. The research takes place in key agricultural regions with primary test sites in the U.S. (corn research sites in Kansas) and the partner countries Canada (wheat sites in McGill University Montreal, Quebec) and the UK (wheat sites in University of Sheffield). The center integrates research, education, stakeholder engagement and outreach and provides support and training to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as outreach toward K-12 students, farmers, and industry partners.

The research thrust areas are:

  • Nanomaterials & (Bio)Sensors: Creating innovative sensors for key nutrients (ammonium and nitrate) and GHG emissions (nitrous oxide and methane) using nanoscale materials and hybrid manufacturing.
  • BNI Research: Establishing and testing biosensors to monitor plants with Biological Nitrification Inhibitors (BNI) to support sustainable agriculture.
  • GHG Modeling: Designing greenhouse gas (GHG) modeling systems and advanced machine and statistical learning techniques.
  • Alternate Nitrogen Fertilizers: Developing alternate nitrogen fertilizers from waste recovery and using biostimulants.

The crosscutting areas are:

  • Stakeholder engagement and co-generation of research activities to strengthen the global science and technology enterprise.
  • Workforce development and education.
  • Outreach activities.