It's a great challenge to make a functional scientific project, but getting that project out of the lab is an even greater challenge. For this reason, we analyzed several factors to make our project work in the real world:
Agrocapsi is not only meant to be a novel research project, but it also represents a way for our vision of safer agriculture to be accomplished. This is done while preserving the bioavailability of numerous crops, including chilli, and ultimately protecting the lifetime job of many agronomists around the world. Same arduous job that's endangered by diverse plant diseases. Even though, nowadays different pesticides are being used as a treatment for said diseases, these entail adverse effects on human and environmental health, not to mention the ongrowing pathogen resistance to these products. Hence, biofungicides have been slowly but surely replacing these agrochemicals, due to their efficiency even at small doses, faster decomposition, and specificity against the intended pest.
Agrocapsi, our proposed biofungicide, will be used to inhibit the growth of P. capsici and its provoked wilt, while mantaining high yields in crop production. Nonetheless, taking a product into the market is no easy task, since it requires a structured and strategic plan. Safety, regulatory and entrepreneurial aspects must be taken into account for the product to be introduced to the real world. Hence, it is necessary to take Agrocapsi out of the lab and bring it into the hands of those who need it.
Our general customers include every person at any level that use our product, being the ones involved directly with the problematic the main beneficiaries. As most of their income relies on their product quality, exportation and/or commercialization, they'll have great influence in the final shape of Agrocapsi. Based on the interviews made with our stakeholders, and the market segmentation we were able to identify the different categories of potential clients (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Agrocapsi's potential users.
Before the planting season begins, a chilli producer's main goal is to end up with a high-quality product. Therefore, he seeks to anticipate and prevent plant diseases which may come from cross-land contamination by phytopathogens or emerge during heavy-rainy season. As a result, he needs to protect his crops by using the adequate agrosupplies, such as biofungicides. At this stage, the producer commonly gets assistance from the technician, who provides his applied knowledge, experience, and technical advice, thus influencing the final decision.
Once the producer feels sufficiently informed to meet his needs, he starts looking for guidance on the available options. Depending on the size of producer, there might be different approaches to this guidance. Usually, small to medium producers seek advice on an agroconsultant, while big producers might seek a specialized industry-grade consultant. In both cases, this decision will have an impact on the outcome regarding production yield and profit. Afterwards, the purchase is done based on the biofungicide that better solves the issue.
Later on, the producer hands the product to the laborer, which he later applies following the label instructions, and letting the product act on the crops. Once the fruit is ready to harvest, it is now transported, distributed, and commercialized. To get to know more about our proposed implementation, check our entrepreneurship page.
Agrocapsi aims to be an actual product in the market, with the specific goal of assuring food security by reducing crop losses on chilli production and easing our customer's life work. But how can we achieve that goal? To fulfill this enterprising purpose, our intent is for it to be commercialized. First locally, then nationally, and lastly internationally. This would lead to generate a global impact by implementing Agrocapsi.
In order to do that, it is required to know its application and disposal procedure: as well as some case scenarios in which Agrocapsi can be used to prevent P. capsici wilt. This in addition to demonstrate how it is expected for a customer to interact with Agrocapsi in every phase.
Thanks to field visits made by the team, we were able to determine the best way to implement Agrocapsi in a real-life situation, and the process that our user must follow, from its acquisition to its proper disposal. We took into consideration our stakeholder’s remarks and recommendations. To make sure that our product met their needs, we incorporated them into the application process. Hence, our product must be applied in a preventive form, and have a liquid formulation to be spread by the irrigation system. For more information on how our stakeholders shaped our project, visit the Integrated Human Practices page!
Figure 2. Product implementation process of Agrocapsi.
The product implementation strategy suggets that the user (Producer, Technician, Agroconsultant, Big Chilli Company Consultant, or Laborer) buys Agrocapsi on our e-commerce website or at a point of sale in an Agrosupplier company. Upon acquisition, the product is ready for its implementation. Regardless of who the buyer was, the laborer applies it. After reading the label, the laborer proceeds to pour the corresponding amount (1 liter/hectare) into a mixing tank. Next, he opens the water valves and waits for the irrigation system to distribute it. Once spread, appropriate disposal must be followed by making small holes at the bottom of the container. Then, it is thrown into a special disposal bin. Finally, a particular truck comes to pick up the containers, and takes them to a collection center. Once here, Agrocapsi is now ready for its recycling.
Agrocapsi is a product meant to safeguard chilli crops in a preventive manner. But, what could happen if it is not applied? The chilli plant's root, stem, and fruit could rot, making it an unprofitable and uneatable plant. Also, P. capsici could be transferred to the neighboring plants, driving the whole field to present wilt.
We were able to detect three scenarios where the user is at risk of presenting P. capsici wilt in his crops. These ascenarios were defined thanks to the information acquired through interviews with phytopathologists, who helped us to understand the behavior and optimal conditions for the proliferation of the pathogen. The risk factors highlighted by the technicians, agronomy engineers, and producers were also taken into consideration. Finally, field visits allowed us to analyze the zones and seasons in which the phytopathogen appears. By identifying these scenarios, we can significally prevent the death of the crop and reduce production losses.
According to phytopathologists, the oomycete requires abundant humidity for the proliferation of its pathological stages. Meanwhile, chilli producers mention that the areas where wilting appears recurrently are in uneven areas. By combining both comments, we can conclude this is provoked by seasonal rains that cause waterlogging.
When a crop region presents wilt, it's urgent to prevent its expansion. Technicians and Agromony Engineers suggested applying the product with a knapsack sprayer from the surrounding area to the infected area. Likewise, it is recommended to incinerate contaminated plants. With this method, the user destroys the source of infection.
Another factor that produces a rise in soil moisture is failures caused by the irrigation system. These can be common problems such as leaks, perforations, or fractures. The propagation of the pathogen in this scenario behaves linearly. Thus, it is instructed to apply it on the row where symptoms are shown.
Figure 3. Plant in the early stages of infection caused by soil with excess moisture due to puddles from seasonal rains.
Figure 4. Visualization of a potential source of infection.
Figure 5. The plant closest to the water intake usually has wilting due to leaks between the pipe and the band.
It is meaningful to us that our users have a great experience when interacting with Agrocapsi. Hence, we have analyzed all the stages that a chilli producer encounters. Beginning with product discovery, comparison among other biofungicides in the market, its acquisition, its implementation in their chilli crops, and finally its repurchase. The customer's journey was determined by producer's interviews and their background. They emphasized what they expected and what they go through when buying a biofungicide, and that is reflected here (Figure 6).
Figure 6. Journey our customers will experience when purchasing Agrocapsi.
After Agrocapsi is established as a product, we will focus on the constant refinement of it by improving its feasibility, effectiveness, and response time. Plus, we plan to broaden the type of phytopathogens it attacks and its application on other crops. In addition, we expect to upgrade its design, offer new sizes, create renewed alliances, and enhance the user's experience by receiving feedback and reviews from our stakeholders. Yet, our absolute objective is not just developing a product, we ambition for more. Specifically, we want to found a multi-functional agricultural enterprise well-known internationally, whose principal product is Agrocapsi.
Agrocapsi strives to be a Mexican company committed to safeguard the world's agriculture. It will be dedicated to the production and commercialization of biopesticides. Our goal is to protect our customer's health, hard work, and economy; while enhancing food production and assuring food security worldwide. We plan to achieve this in a safe, sustainable, and effective manner. In order to do this, we must define our supply chain, specify our industrial scaling-up process and take into consideration safety precautions in every phase of the process.
The supply chain of Agrocapsi describes the whole path that our product goes through, from the suppliers of raw materials to the implementation by the final user. It is a key element in the running of a company, since its proper management can lead to success. Hence, it's vital to have ideal planning, professionals, and equipment to operate it. Additionally, it allows us to provide a method for our customers to acquire the product, which they are already familiar with.
Figure 7. Supply chain.
For Agrocapsi to be produced in a larger scale, an industrial scaling-up process is required. We designed this process for two of our active ingredients, our antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). But, before starting this process, we assumed the bacteria were previously transformed in the laboratory with our genetic constructs that allow the production of our molecules of interest, in this case, AMPs. The manufacturing process to produce Agrocapsi's active ingredients consists of four stages: peptide synthesis, extraction, purification, and nanoencapsulation. (Figure 8).
Figure 8. Industrial production process of Agrocapsi
Once the inoculum of transformed bacteria is obtained, the cells are grown in a bioreactor. When they reach the exponential growth phase (0.4- 0.6 optical density), peptide expression is induced. Later on, the cells are lysed by means of centrifugation and Tris HCl for protein extraction. Later on, protein is purified through two diafiltrations, and finally nanoencapsulated. Our third active ingredient is a siRNA, it is planned to consider its scale-up production too. You can visit the Entrepreneurship page to fully see how our industrial scaling-up process works!
Agrocapsi puts people first. Since we are the ones that shape Agrocapsi, we value every single stakeholder, from laborers to big chilli producers; each archetype from the chilli value chain; and last but not least, the future employees of Agrocapsi. We are aware of the possible threats and risks associated with operating a company. Therefore, we took into consideration all the pertinent security measures, from the product design stage, its manufacture, and once it has been applied in the field. Click on every icon to see it!
Design
Manufacture
Implementation
When it comes to running a company and developing a product, just like Agrocapsi. We need to consider many factors to achieve our main objectives. Thus, we combined business strategy tools: a SWOT and a PESTEL analysis to determine the internal, external, and macro-environmental factors of our project. Which helps us identify areas for improvement, growth opportunities, and significant advantages. Click on each icon to see the information displayed!
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| Political | Economic | Social | Technological | Ecological | Legal | |
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