It was brought to my attention that several other AgTech companies other than John Deere were showcasing some of their latest innovations at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. Below are just a few more ag highlights from the show that I found interesting.
Aimbe LAB: South Korean startup Aimbe LAB has designed a way to monitor the contents of the huge silos called “Myfeed.” Based on their AI feed measuring IoT device, feed monitoring smartphone application, and web ERP, their solution is designed to “enhance the feed monitoring, managing, ordering, logistics, inventory, delivery, and data utilization processes for livestock farms and feed companies.” Put simply, it measures the amount remaining feed in the bin, consumption patterns, and conditions through “Feed Manager,” the feed measurement IoT device, and shows it in real-time through the “Myfeed” app. The IoT device can also monitor the temperature and humidity inside the feed bin in real-time. The app alerts the user when the feed bin reaches emptiness or shows signs of spilling or if the lid didn’t close properly, enabling users to take quick measures. Currently, Aimbe LAB is preparing to enter the US market through cooperation with Techstars.
Lumo: This California-based startup is focused on water sustainability through the development of smart valve and irrigation technology. At CES, Lumo unveiled its first “smart” irrigation valve for growers. The company calls it a “first of its kind wireless, smart water valve network that will enable growers to optimize water usage to improve crop quality and reduce overhead costs.” In addition, Lumo allows growers to accurately track their water consumption, giving them the ability to manage what they can measure. A number of Lumo’s smart valves are being tested in vineyards and orchards in Sonoma and Napa Counties in California.
Meropy: French startup Meropy was at CES with its SentiV robot that inspects the health of crops. The contraption has two wheels holding spiked legs on either side of the central body. The scouting robot specializes in monitoring cereal crops, such as barley and wheat, and is meant to check a crop every 5 to 10 days. It highlights variability within field crops and detects potential threats. The spoke wheels can step over crops, so they won’t be damaged. Meropy expects that SentiV will fill the gaps currently existing in remote sensing, as it can create images from under the canopy, which is not possible with remote sensing. SentiV also collects and analyses data using AI algorithms that allow farmers to monitor nutrient and water requirements of crops for variable rate seeding or spraying. It can also identify the presence of biological threats such as weeds, diseases, and pests.
GUSS Automation: Herbicide GUSS (Global Unmanned Spray System) from California startup GUSS Automation is the first and only autonomous herbicide orchard sprayer on the market. A single operator can monitor any combination of up to eight GUSS, mini GUSS, and Herbicide GUSS autonomous sprayers. The company was started by Dave Crinklaw, who dealt with the shortage of agricultural labor in his own business. After developing and successfully introducing a fleet of GUSS sprayers into his own custom application business, Crinklaw decided to make GUSS autonomous sprayers available for any grower to own.
