Updates from the WGCIT The Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology was created to link Western Growers members with innovators in the agtech space. Below are news updates from the Center’s startups, as well as updates on activities at the center and its popular podcast!
Agrology
Agtech startup Agrology participated in the International Fresh Produce Association’s Fresh Field Catalyst Accelerator Immersion Program, a week-long deep dive into California growers. Agrology was one of 12 climate solution companies to join the immersion week, where they visited more than a dozen growers to learn first-hand where technology is needed to address major industry challenges including labor shortages, the climate crisis, and water and resource scarcity. Agrology also launched a new Fire Map App to enable growers to monitor active wildfires within a 20-mile radius anywhere in the world. The Agrology app is now available for free in the iOS App Store and can be downloaded at agrology. ag/firemap .
Agtools was featured by the University of Florida during the AI/ML in Agriculture Conference in Orlando. Of interest, Southeastern U.S. farms growing perishable and seasonal food continue to achieve gains due to economies of scale and scope. These gains are largely dependent on management decisions made based on market information. In addition, Agtools’ founder was featured by The Packer’s 14th annual Women in Produce awards honoring eight industry leaders who play pivotal roles in the success of their own organizations, as well as the produce industry as a whole. Another win: Agtools, representing the United States, won the IICA—Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture—Agtech award among 70 companies from the Northern Hemisphere. Finally, Agtools was able to use their technology to alert customers in February of the potential shortage of grapes in May. Carbon Robotics’ revolutionary, high-precision laserweeding technology uses sophisticated AI deep-learning technology, computer vision, robotics and lasers to reduce weed control costs by 80 percent and improve crop yield and quality. Carbon Robotics’ LaserWeeder utilizes 30 high-powered CO2 lasers and thermal energy to identify, target and eliminate weeds at the meristem with millimeter accuracy, without disturbing the soil or damaging nearby crops. The implement can kill up to 99 percent of weeds, weed up to two acres per hour and eliminate up to 5,000 weeds per minute, equivalent to a hand-weeding crew of 75 people. In February 2023, Carbon Robotics introduced the industry’s first LaserThinning capability for its LaserWeeder, targeting areas where vegetable crops are purposefully overseeded and then thinned for optimal crop spacing, growth and yield. To date, Carbon Robotics’ LaserWeeders have successfully eliminated over 1 billion weeds across more than 40 different crops. 2023 deliveries will bring the LaserWeeder to farms in 17 U.S. states and three provinces in Canada, with 2023 pre-orders nearly sold out and pre-orders for 2024 deliveries well underway. This year, Carbon Robotics was named to Fast Company ’s annual list of Most Innovative Companies and raised $35 million in Series C funding to expand sales regions in North America, optimize and scale manufacturing, develop new software and hardware products, and launch into international markets.
AgTools
Carbon Robotics
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JULY | AUGUST 2023
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