Sinc Energy (Emission Strategies Inc, a Maryland small business) has been awarded an FY 2022 Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program grant for its technology “Smarter Agriculture with VOLTTRON” (SAV™). The project was awarded under the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Engineering Plant Production and Protection topic area of the USDA’s SBIR program. In their Update of August 10, 2022, NIFA describes this SBIR as “a highly competitive program that encourages domestic small businesses to enhance crop production in both conventional and organic systems by creating and commercializing engineering technologies that enhance system efficiency and profitability and that protect crops from pests and pathogens in economical and environmental ways.” (NIFA)
SAV is designed to improve controlled environment agriculture (CEA) by addressing energy use, among other benefits. We have assembled a strong team to execute the Phase I project, including Verdicity, Candidus, EMAT, the University of Maryland State Extension program, and our greenhouse demonstration site Catoctin Mountain Growers. The work will continue through spring 2023.
As part of this program, Sinc Energy is partnering with LARTA to support a Phase II commercialization plan. We thank our partners and look forward to working together on this project and in the future.
For more information on VOLTTRON, read the white paper here.
Our partners:
- Sinc Energy www.sincenergy.com
- Verdicity www.verdicity.com
- Candidus www.candidus.us
- EMAT www.ematprogram.com
- University of Maryland COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architect
- Catoctin Mtn Growers www.catoctinmtngrowers.com
- Larta Institute www.larta.org
