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.
Agrology
Braga Fresh and Agrology hosted an online seminar this fall that highlighted the innovative practices and production methodologies adopted by Braga Fresh in their regenerative farming trials. The two companies are quantifying soil health by monitoring, measuring and quantifying soil carbon flux and soil respiration, two integral factors indicating the health and activity of the soil microbiome. In 2023, Braga Fresh was the first grower to adopt Agrology’s innovative Arbiter Carbon Monitoring System, a continuous soil health and soil carbon monitoring solution. Recently, Agrology and Braga Fresh jointly received the annual Science & Technology Circle of Excellence Award at the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show for the work they have done in this area. In 2024, the two companies will continue to work together to help implement technology as an integral piece to regenerative programs. Braga Fresh and Agrology will be hosting field days and other events. Braga’s webinar is available on YouTube at Agrology-ag and those interested in receiving news about upcoming events for growers can subscribe for the newsletter at Agrology.ag. Agtools’ new partnership with Procurant, a software platform for retail grocers, foodservice organizations, and their perishable goods suppliers leveraging advanced analytics and insights, can help streamline customers’ day-to-day activities around forecasting and purchase orders. Color-coded alerts to buyers and sellers based on USDA standards, phenological cycles and calculators such as GDD enable customers to view potential threats to crops before they arise, and to quickly see the probability of receiving orders and the expected quality. Processed food industry has embraced Agtools data: the largest salsa producer has started utilizing the tomato and tomatillo worldwide data to manage their production lines efficiently. Agtools was selected from over 300 applicants to participate in the InsurtechNY program to evaluate the analytic use of data to develop a new insurance product and mitigate risk in the food and ag supply chain. Carbon Robotics, makers of LaserWeeder™ which is powered by artificial intelligence and computer vision technology, raised an additional $8 million to further accelerate product development. The new cash extends a Series C round that has now pulled in $43 million in 2023. Carbon Robotics has raised $80 million in total since its founding five years ago. Demand and units shipped for the flagship LaserWeeder product tripled in 2023 versus 2022. First units arrived to growers in Australia in Nov/Dec and units will begin arriving at EU growers in Jan/Feb 2024. Unit demand for 2024 is looking strong so growers interested in receiving units in 2024 are encouraged to contact the company as early in the year as possible. Learn more at carbonrobotics.com Cultiva was a finalist at the AgSharks competition at the 2023 Western Growers Annual Meeting in Kauai. Cultiva is a global leader in plant cuticle health technology. Its branded products—Parka® and Kallur®—help growers of specialty crops protect their yield from increasing environmental stresses, including those associated with extreme temperatures and untimely moisture events. Crops protected by Cultiva’s patented technology have reduced incidences of fruit cracking, sunburn, doubling, staining and coloring issues, ultimately improving growers’ overall marketable yield. Being a finalist at AgSharks allowed the Cultiva team to present at OGS in Monterey, Calif. at the end of November. In addition, kudos to Dr. Daniel Manriquez Becerra, Director of Research & Development at Cultiva LLC, the triumphant winner of the 5-5-5 Innovation Showcase at the Biostimulants World Congress.
AgTools
Carbon Robotics
Cultiva
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JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2024
Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com
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