Context and Justification
Heavy metal contamination, especially cadmium (Cd), in agricultural crops represents a critical threat to global food security and the export competitiveness of Ecuadorian cacao. Ecuador, as one of the world's leading producers of fine-flavor cacao, faces growing restrictions from European and North American markets related to maximum cadmium limits permitted in cacao products.
This project proposes a comprehensive and innovative methodology to monitor and mitigate cadmium presence in the Archidona region, Napo province, Ecuador. Using remote monitoring technologies with drones, multispectral images, and artificial intelligence, the project aims to precisely segment cadmium accumulation zones in soil and plants, significantly reducing the costs and time of conventional laboratory analyses.
Main Research Goal
Specific Scope
- Design and apply a standardized multispectral image capture protocol in cacao plots in Archidona, including sensor calibration and optimal flight parameters for each phenological stage of the crop.
- Statistically correlate vegetation indices derived from multispectral images with laboratory chemical analysis results (ICP-MS and Atomic Absorption) for cadmium in soil and plant tissue.
- Evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of replicating the developed methodology in other cacao-producing regions of Ecuador with different edaphoclimatic conditions.
- Develop an interactive web platform to visualize cadmium accumulation risk zones and manage soil and nutritional mitigation alternatives for agricultural technicians and producers.
Results Obtained
Remote monitoring with multispectral images demonstrated the ability to precisely identify and segment zones of differentiated cadmium accumulation in cacao crops, achieving reliable content estimates and significantly reducing costs compared to conventional laboratory analysis.
Expected Research Products
Calibrated and field-validated multispectral capture protocol, with technical flight and processing specifications for cacao plots.
Georeferenced database of cacao plots in Archidona, with multitemporal records of vegetation indices and cadmium levels.
Statistical and machine learning correlation models between spectral indices and cadmium content, validated with ICP-MS and Atomic Absorption analyses.
Agricultural mitigation technical guides with recommendations on soil amendments (e.g., bokashi, dolomitic lime) to reduce cadmium bioavailability.
Final interactive web platform for agricultural technicians and producers, visualizing cadmium risk maps and recommending specific agronomic management actions by plot.