News » 05.09.2025 - New technology transforms a 5 day wait into a 3 minute breeze
Nordetect has announced the commercial availability of Nora, a portable analyzer that delivers lab-quality macronutrient testing in just three minutes, replacing the traditional 5-day wait for laboratory results that has long hampered precision nutrient management in greenhouses and vertical farms.
As controlled environment agriculture operations face mounting pressure to optimize every input and reduce operational inefficiencies, the delay in receiving critical nutrient data forces growers into a costly dilemma: over apply expensive fertilizers as insurance or risk crop damage from nutrient imbalances. Nora eliminates this operational bottleneck entirely.
"Waiting five days for lab results in a fast-growing crop environment is like flying blind," said Keenan Pinto, Co-Founder and CEO of Nordetect. "Nora puts real-time, actionable data directly in growers' hands, enabling them to make informed nutrient management decisions when it matters, not days later when issues may have already impacted their crops."
The system combines three integrated components to deliver comprehensive nutrient analysis: the Nora Analyzer, a portable, calibration-free device using advanced spectrophotometry; AgroChip Cartridges, which are patented single-use testing cartridges that measure six critical macronutrients simultaneously, including Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), and Sulfur (S); and the Cloud Analytics Platform, which provides real-time data visualization and trend analysis software that integrates with existing pH and EC monitoring systems.
The testing process involves just three simple steps: Test, Read, and Optimize. In the Test step, you insert the chip into Nora and add a sample. During the Read step, instant analysis is performed at the click of a button. Finally, in the Optimize step, you can view results and trends using the cloud platform.
Nora addresses critical operational challenges facing modern Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) facilities by eliminating decision delays, reducing operational complexity, and improving resource efficiency. Immediate results from Nora enable same-day adjustments to nutrient programs, which eliminates decision delays. The system requires no technical expertise or calibration, thus reducing operational complexity. Additionally, the precise nutrient data provided helps optimize fertilizer and water usage, thereby improving resource efficiency.
"The controlled environment agriculture industry is evolving rapidly, with successful operations focusing intensely on operational efficiency and resource optimization," added Pinto. "Nora is designed specifically for this new reality—where every input must be optimized and every decision must be data-driven."
Nora represents Nordetect's second-generation testing platform, incorporating extensive customer feedback and featuring enhanced reliability through advanced optical sensors.
Unlike test strips that provide semi-quantitative estimates or bench-top analyzers requiring significant capital investment and technical expertise, Nora offers quantitative results in a user-friendly, portable format.
Nora is now available for commercial deployment in the United States and Canada, with European availability planned for 2026. Nordetect offers on-site demonstrations and trial programs for qualified commercial operations.
Source: www.floraldaily.com
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