SNAP - Sustainable Nitrogen Application Project

Apple growers will soon be able to vary nitrogen fertiliser doses tree-by-tree across an orchard, rather than spreading a uniform blanket of fertiliser at fixed times. Current practice wastes nitrogen on trees that do not need it and starves those that could use more. Because individual trees differ in size, vigour, and fruit load, a one-size-fits-all approach reduces yield and increases environmental harm. Excess nitrogen runs off into waterways and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. SNAP combines recent advances in crop remote sensing—using cameras or scanners to assess tree health from above—with precision application hardware that can deliver different fertiliser rates on the move. If the technique works, growers will see higher yields from the same land, while using less nitrogen. The wider environment benefits from reduced pollution and lower climate impact. The project also aims to accelerate the global fruit industry’s shift toward precision farming, improving food security and resilience to climate disruption. This is applied engineering and agronomy, not fundamental science—its value is measured in tonnes of fruit saved and tonnes of fertiliser not spread.