Beyond Leftovers: Award-winning Microwave-based nutrient sensor helps farmers grow more with less

The same technology behind warming your lunch is now being used by researchers at the University of Calgary to create a microwave-based sensor that can measure nutrient levels in agricultural liquids, including manure for fertilizer, without direct contact. The innovation was recognized internationally in 2026, receiving the AgTech Breakthrough Award for Water Monitoring Innovation of the Year. 

Alberta Farmers often rely on estimates when applying fertilizer to fields and crops, which can lead to issues like overapplication of nutrients, high costs, and increased run-off into waterways. 

The ability to measure nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, more accurately allows for a more precise application of nutrients to the soil, increased protection of water quality, and a reduction in waste.  

This nutrient sensor technology has been developed in partnership with Livestock Water Recycling (LWR), a Calgary-based innovation centre specializing in manure treatment technology, who has provided researchers access to their agricultural environments for physical testing, to ensure it meets industry standard. LWR works with farmers to increase efficiency and sustainability by reducing the amount of manure required for fertilization, maximizing nutrients delivered to the soil, and creating a renewable source of water.  

The development of the technology was also supported by Alberta Innovates through a series of funding that helped advance the sensor from research to commercialization. Funding included $500,000 through the Agri-Food and Bio-Industrial Innovation Program (ABIP) to support development of the microwave-based nutrient sensor, followed by $500,000 through the Tech 2 Farm program to validate the technology and explore opportunities in international markets, including Europe and the United Kingdom.  

An additional investment of approximately $100,000 through the Industry Commercialization Associates program supported commercialization activities as the team worked toward bringing Alberta-developed technology to market. This included exploring opportunities beyond direct farm applications, such as the renewable natural gas sector, where recovered agricultural resources can contribute to cleaner energy production. 

"Bringing new technologies to market takes strong collaboration between researchers, industry and innovation partners, "says Mark Summers, Vice President of Strategic Industries at Alberta Innovates. "Support for commercialization helps promising ideas move beyond the lab and into real-world settings, where they can deliver meaningful benefits for farmers, communities and the environment.” 

By supporting market validation and adoption abroad, Alberta Innovates is helping position Alberta-developed agricultural technologies for international growth while creating new opportunities for homegrown innovation. 

The real-world application of this microwave-based nutrient sensor technology benefits not only farmers and the productivity of their fields but all Albertans by helping keep waterways cleaner and reducing environmental impacts. From applied research and agricultural innovation to environmental stewardship, this project also demonstrates how commercializing homegrown technology can bring industry and post-secondary researchers together to solve real-world challenges while creating lasting value for Alberta. 

As of 2025, a patent has been filed in the United States for the nutrient sensor technology, further expanding commercialization and adoption in the field. The team is currently working on the development of a fully integrated sensor that can function in an agricultural environment, adapting it to the needs of an everyday farm. Beyond this, their goal is to complete system integration, validation, and field testing on farms, with trials expected to extend through 2027.   

The next time you heat up your leftovers, consider how the humble microwave can not only be used to reheat your food, but can also help turn manure into data, giving farmers the information they need to grow more with less.