Agrilo and Agrilo-VR: Field Validation and Real-World Deployment of AI-Driven Soil and Nutrient Sensing Systems in Kenya

Healthy soil is crucial for global food security, yet farmers face declining fertility, nutrient depletion, and rising fertilizer costs. These challenges are particularly pressing for smallholder farmers in Kenya, where timely soil information is limited. This project connects researchers from Canada and Kenya to advance Agrilo, a real-time soil nutrient sensing system, and Agrilo-VR, an immersive virtual reality platform for environmental education.

Agrilo’s portable, low-cost sensors measure essential soil indicators—including nitrate, phosphate, potassium, pH, boron, sulfur, CEC, NOM, magnesium, manganese, iron, and calcium—with near-laboratory accuracy. These data help farmers optimize fertilizer application, reduce nutrient runoff, and improve crop performance. Field validation will take place across Kenya’s diverse agricultural landscapes, allowing for assessment under real farming conditions.
A student intern will travel to Kenya to support field validation, collect soil datasets, and assist with the deployment and testing of Agrilo-VR in schools, training centres, and conservation programs. Agrilo-VR will transform real soil and ecological data into interactive learning environments that make environmental science accessible and engaging.

By integrating sensing technology, AI-driven analytics, and VR-based education, this project promotes climate-smart agriculture, strengthens international collaboration, and expands access to sustainable soil management tools across both partner regions.

Faculty Supervisor:

Mohammed Elmorsy;Samuel Mugo

Student:

Partner:

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Discipline:

Computer science

Sector:

Agriculture and Food; Environmental Science and Technology; Education

University:

MacEwan University

Program: