For companies like Vertal, innovation in plant nutrition is both a technical and a human adventure. From laboratory sap analyses to field diagnostics, every new tool that brings science closer to the farmer can shift the way decisions are made.That’s what Rémy Iceta, Crop Market Manager at Vertal (France), has witnessed firsthand. Having worked on the early NIR1700 (called Foodscan at the time) prototype in 2022 and then adopting Nutriscope™ in 2025, he has seen how real-time plant diagnostics can transform both research and advisory work.
Today, Nutriscope has truly revolutionized the way we manage crop fertility in the field
Remy Iceta, Vertal
Rémy, can you tell us about your background?
My name is Rémy Iceta, and I’m Crop Market Manager at Vertal, a designer and manufacturer of agricultural biosolutions based in La Rabatelière, France. I’ve been using Nutriscope since its launch.
How did your journey with these tools begin?
It all started in May 2022 with the arrival of the Foodscan. At that time, I was an apprentice at Vertal and had the chance to take part in the development project. It was an exciting experience. For the first time, we had a tool that could directly guide plant nutrition and productivity in the field.
When Nutriscope was released in early 2025, we decided to invest. The tool delivered on its promises of ease of use and speed, and it opened huge new perspectives, especially on mineral analysis, which had always been central to our work through years of laboratory sap tests.
What makes Nutriscope stand out for you?
Before Nutriscope, measuring Redox was slow and tedious. For minerals, we had to send sap samples to a lab - useful, but heavy and time-consuming.
With Nutriscope, everything happens in the field in one to two minutes, directly with the farmer and technician. We can compare situations, check deficiencies, and demonstrate the impact of our biosolutions. Everything is centralized on the portal and app we co-developed. Despite a few early bugs, the speed and fluidity of data processing have been a real revolution for our R&D and for commercial follow-up.
The ability to perform an almost unlimited number of measurements immediately won me over. I’ve done thousands myself. Compared with sap analyses, the only cost is the device and subscription, no per-sample expense.
How do you use it at Vertal?
We use Nutriscope to:
- Demonstrate the efficiency of our biosolutions in field comparisons or R&D contexts;
- Monitor clients and secure their crops;
- Carry out preventive diagnostics using the pH-Redox approach to detect plant stress and identify deficiencies before they appear;
- Even support regulatory dossiers, one of our recent authorizations was obtained thanks to Nutriscope data (chlorophyll and Brix measurements).
I remember a recent client presentation at Villemont: we expected four or five technicians, and twelve showed up once they saw Nutriscope in action. Half the team convinced in a single demo, unheard of.
Today, whenever we talk about minerals and fertilization, attention is much higher. Nutriscope is a game changer.
What kind of results are you seeing?
On June 25, 2025, we applied one of our biosolutions on maize in the Basque region. The results were immediate and measurable:
- Chlorophyll concentration increased, indicating stronger photosynthesis;
- Redox decreased while Brix rose;
- Mineral uptake improved (NPK up).
These demonstrations change everything, we can scientifically prove that our biosolutions boost photosynthesis and plant vigor.
How has it changed your work?
Nutriscope has pushed us further. It helps us:
- Search for correlations between plant elements,
- Understand ideal Redox ranges,
- Refine our scientific approach.
Without such a large data volume, that would have been impossible.
For Vertal, Nutriscope has become strategic. It’s part of our technical and commercial discourse and opens doors to clients we previously struggled to engage. I can’t imagine working without it.
How does it compare with other tools?
Before, we used lab sap analyses for minerals and Extech probes for soil Redox. Compared with them, Nutriscope brings speed, precision, practicality, and a modern, intuitive app interface.Its limits? Mainly connectivity, the offline mode can bug sometimes, and the learning curve for people new to Redox and mineral balances.
But overall, the trend is clear: we’re moving toward smaller, faster, simpler tools, and that means Nutriscope.
In summary?
For me, Nutriscope represents:
- Speed and precision compared with older tools;
- A motivating and engaging tool for our teams and clients;
- A strategic lever changing how we manage crop fertility.
Initially, the Foodscan project held a lot of promise, and today, Nutriscope has truly revolutionized the way we manage crop fertility in the field.