Spornado, a horn-shaped fungal spore detector, took home the top prize in the Agronomics category at this year’s Innovation in Agriculture Awards, presented during Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show. The win underscores the growing demand for precision tools that help farmers stay ahead of crop diseases—before they take hold in the field.
Kristine White, CEO and co-founder of Spornado, described the recognition as both an honour and a valuable opportunity to raise awareness. “When you’re doing something new, awareness is really important, especially in ag,” she said. “It’s been a really good conversation starter.” That conversation is expanding rapidly. Originally designed to monitor potato fields for fungal spores, the technology now serves over a dozen crops across 23 countries, detecting more than 30 different diseases.
The device’s real advantage lies in its ability to provide early warnings. Unlike traditional scouting, which relies on visible symptoms, Spornado’s air sampler identifies fungal spores in the environment one to two weeks before infections appear. “It gives farmers a more targeted spray window on when to apply fungicides,” White explained. That precision not only reduces unnecessary chemical use but also helps prevent yield losses by allowing proactive intervention.
Spornado’s evolution reflects its adaptability to real-world farming challenges. Early versions operated passively, relying on wind to draw spores into the collection chamber. But during a project with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agri-business (OMAFA) in apple orchards, White’s team discovered that dense canopies blocked airflow, limiting effectiveness. The solution? A solar-powered internal fan to ensure consistent sampling, regardless of wind conditions.
The system itself is straightforward. Farmers stake the unit into the field, where it collects spores on a disposable cassette changed weekly. The samples are shipped overnight to a partner lab for DNA analysis, capable of identifying up to four fungal pathogens per test. Results are returned to the producer within 24 hours—speed that can make the difference between containment and outbreak.
Partnerships with organizations like OMAFA have been critical to refining the technology. By collaborating with grower groups, Spornado gains access to field-level data on disease pressure, crop varieties, and input use. “We can detect any airborne fungal disease,” White noted, “but the key is determining which ones will actually help farmers improve their spraying and boost yields.” That data-driven approach ensures the tool remains practical for producers facing diverse and evolving threats, from tar spot in corn to soybean and wheat diseases.
Affordability is another selling point. Spornado operates on a seasonal subscription model, covering the unit, cassettes, and lab analysis—no upfront capital investment required. For farmers already balancing tight margins, the ability to pay as they go while gaining actionable insights is a compelling proposition.
As fungal diseases grow more aggressive due to climate shifts and resistant strains, tools like Spornado represent a shift from reactive to predictive agriculture. The award at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show isn’t just recognition of innovation—it’s a signal that the industry is ready for solutions that turn data into defense.