Picketa Systems Expands LENS Technology into United States – Seed World

The move brings news real-time crop management technology to 13 states.

Picketa Systems, an agricultural technology company dedicated to unlocking agronomic potential, is expanding into 13 states across the United States. Their LENS system, a real-time crop management technology, is set to redefine how agronomists and farmers handle their crop. Committed to integrating real-time plant tissue analysis into agribusiness workflows, Picketa Systems showcased its precision agricultural management in a recent news release.

In 2024, Picketa Systems’ LENS technology will be available in California, Utah, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Mississippi. Through this expansion, the company is partnering with leading agronomists, crop consultants, retailers, co-ops and input and seed companies, underscoring its mission to advance agricultural technology by providing instant crop nutrient data to farmers nationwide.

The LENS system offers real-time tissue analysis, empowering agronomists and farmers to make informed decisions swiftly.

“Growers are impressed with the speed at which the results are available, and we have been able to show the effectiveness of our products,” said an agronomist at William Houde Ltée, a Québec-based agricultural products and services company using LENS since 2023, in the release.

Initially designed for potato analysis, the LENS has now expanded to include corn tissue analysis, a vital crop for U.S. farmers. Despite corn being a cornerstone crop, many top-producing farmers do not regularly test their plants, highlighting a crucial gap in the industry.

Picketa Systems CEO Xavier Hébert-Couturier emphasized the transformative potential.

“With instant access to this data, agronomists can implement proactive management strategies used in high-value crops like potatoes to precisely manage row crops such as corn. This presents a huge opportunity to enhance crop yields and fertilizer efficiency,” He said. “Farmers often rely on visual cues rather than nutrient data due to the challenges in collecting this data, leading to missed opportunities for timely adjustments during the growing season.”

Agronomists across the United States and Canada have praised the LENS system for its reliability and ease of use.

“This is a game changer in developing management strategies for new varieties that graduate the research program. It allows us to keep track of everything that happened and pass that information to growers easily afterward, and even track it for our own business intelligence,” said Mac, an Eastern lead agronomist and research farm manager at McCain Foods.

The LENS analyzes crop tissues and compares them to a global database of crop conditions gathered from thousands of plants at different growth stages. Its reliability has been proven through repeated studies across hundreds of fields on four continents.

For agribusinesses, the LENS nutrient management system provides insights into plant tissue nutrient data.

“This product acts as a lie detector, helping us stay in check and ensuring accuracy. It presents an excellent opportunity to showcase the effectiveness of our crop protection and other products, making it an invaluable asset,” said Lloyd from Taber Home and Farms in Alberta, Canada.

This expansion into the United States coincides with a significant funding round from internal stakeholders, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to the company’s mission. With this support, Picketa Systems is poised to extend its reach to even more farmers and agronomists nationwide.

“Our team is thrilled to witness the widespread adoption of the LENS, first in potatoes and now in corn. We believe that the LENS is not just innovative technology but the ultimate crop management strategy,” Hébert-Couturier said.

Looking ahead, Picketa Systems aims to collaborate further with leading agronomists, expand the range of crops analyzed by the LENS, and broaden accessibility for growers nationwide. For more information or to secure your LENS unit for the 2024 season, visit Picketa Systems.