The University of Western Australia has partnered with Perth-based startup Magic Wavelength to commercialise a groundbreaking sensor technology that could revolutionise how farmers monitor crop health worldwide.

The innovative microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) spectrometer was developed by UWA's Microelectronics Research Group (MRG), one of Australia's largest and most respected semiconductor research groups, led by Professor Laurie Faraone. 

“The MRG’s semiconductor expertise and its close ties with the renowned UWA Institute of Agriculture make UWA the perfect setting for this type of Ag-Tech development,” Professor Faraone said.

“The new sensor dramatically reduces the size and cost of traditional spectrometers, making real-time pervasive agricultural monitoring accessible to farmers globally.

“The technology allows the plant to tell you directly about its health – by analysing the infrared spectrum of a leaf, we can instantly determine if a plant is thriving or needs attention, whether it’s water-stressed, or if it requires fertiliser.”

Professor Faraone said traditional infrared spectroscopy equipment, which can cost upwards of $100,000 and requires laboratory conditions, had limited practical application for day-to-day farming. 

The UWA-developed sensor technology will enable the creation of affordable, lightweight, robust and portable instruments that can be hand-held in the field or mounted on drones for real-time monitoring of plant, grain and soil health.

Magic Wavelength – founded by UWA PhD graduate Dr Kevin Fynn who was supervised by Professor Faraone – plans to manufacture and distribute agricultural spectrometer instruments incorporating the UWA patented technology globally. 

The company has already developed a working prototype that matches the performance of commercial laboratory spectrometers in a robust and portable format.

“What sets this technology apart is its low cost and accessibility,” Dr Fynn said. “I am very excited about building new instruments leveraging the Microelectronics Research Group’s groundbreaking MEMS sensor, which opens up numerous new applications in both commercial and consumer sectors.

“Although I have received invitations to establish MEMS semiconductor facilities internationally, my priority is to first explore opportunities to seed the critical aspects of semiconductor manufacturing right here in Western Australia.

“Our vision is to make this available not just to large agricultural operations in developed countries, but also to farmers in Southeast Asia and other regions where this kind of technology has been out of reach.”

Image: The UWA and Magic Wavelength (MW) technical development team. From left: Mariusz Martyniuk (UWA), Dilusha Silva (UWA), Jarek Antoszewski (UWA), Charlie Musca (MW), Gilberto Umana-Membreno (UWA), Bert Wong (MW), Michael Ong (MW), Laurie Faraone (UWA), John Siliquini (MW), and Kevin Fynn (MW) with one prototype of the spectrometer.

The instrument will feature a simple interface providing instant feedback on crop health through an intuitive system, making it practical for everyday use across various agricultural applications.

Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) Professor Anna Nowak said the commercialisation agreement demonstrated the University's commitment to developing practical solutions for global challenges. 

Proceeds from the agreement will be reinvested into future research and teaching of MEMS technology at UWA.

“This project, which combines two decades of research in MEMS and infrared technology, showcases UWA’s leadership in microelectronics research and its ability to partner with industry to bring innovative solutions to market,” Professor Nowak said.

The Microelectronics Research Group and Magic Wavelength have just been awarded an Australian Economic Accelerator grant of $462,700 over 12 months to develop a production-ready prototype of the affordable handheld spectrometer.