A firm based in Leiria called Nitrogen Sensing Solutions is creating biosensors to monitor aquaculture or agricultural water and more rapidly identify ammonium, nitrite, and nitrates. By using tiny, disposable test strips that are connected to portable readers, these biosensors provide real-time analysis of each compound without the need for a laboratory visit, allowing for "rapid decision-making" and optimal water management.

In the context of aquaculture, “one of the most important aspects is monitoring water quality, since one of the parameters is nitrogen, which, although it is an essential nutrient for plants and animals, in excess can be harmful to aquatic life and agriculture”, Gabriela Almeida, researcher and founder of Nitrogen Sensing Solutions (NS2) shared.

According to the researcher, biosensors enable precise measurements of the concentrations of nitrites, nitrates, or ammonium in fresh and salt water, which are crucial for managing closed water circuits. Since they are “toxic to fish and their accumulation can lead to the total loss of production within a matter of hours”, ammonia and nitrites – which are produced by fish waste and food scraps – are the “most problematic”.

To "adjust exactly to the characteristics of the test strips" and to make the product "more economical and scalable," the person in charge is "redeveloping technologies [hardware and software] that already exist”. A distinct component is detected by each of the strips that compose the biosensor. The initiative came forth as a consequence of nearly 20 years of research. The project is still in the prototype stage and has received financing of 100 thousand euros from INOV-D. The goal is to introduce it to the European market after it is finished.