Updates on our Innovators
Posted on February 08, 2018 11:24 AM by WGCIT
HarvestPort: HarvestPort to be featured on PBS Success Files. HarvestPort is a shared economy marketplace, benefits specialty crop farmers in California and beyond. Portions of the videos and interviews were filmed inside the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology in Salinas, CA. Watch the HarvestPort Success Files preview clip here.
WaterBit: AT&T Plants IoT Seeds in Agriculture Industry, By Ken Briodagh
“Western Growers is excited about the WaterBit and AT&T relationship. These types of strategic collaborations are necessary to bring IoT to the field level and can help growers drive further precision into their operations,” said Hank Giclas, SVP, science and technology, Western Growers. “The WaterBit technology for precision irrigation coupled with AT&T's focus on agriculture is a solid indicator of the future trends in smart agriculture.”
Hazel Technologies: Using Technology to Limit Shrink
Surprisingly, the technology is something the founders nailed on their first iteration, never having to go back and tamper with the original invention. Mouat attributes some of that success to luck but believes it is mostly because the team employed a ‘Keep it simple’ philosophy during development. Instead of being tempted to delve into more sophisticated engineering, they chose to work with nature’s most basic molecules keeping their customer’s bottom line in mind. Finding a cost effective solution was necessary to make their technology practical. “Our technology had to be cheap, effective and durable and had to be something we can mass manufacture because ag is one of the highest volume industries on the planet,” Mouat sad. “Having that philosophy is what guided us, and as a result, it was harder to fail.”
California Safe Soil: 9 Startups Taking a Bite Out of Food Waste
Another company turning food waste into fertilizer is California Safe Soil, a Sacramento startup founded in 2012. It has raised about $13 million, including a $3 million round last August. A second company, called KDC Agribusiness, was founded specifically to commercialize the technology. Like WISErg, California Safe Soil converts supermarket waste into liquid fertilizer, as well as feed pellets for chickens and pigs. The company claims its trademarked Harvest-to-Harvest fertilizer can increase organic yields by 10 to 40 percent per acre with 25 percent less water.
MagGrow: 7 AG TECH START-UPS TO WATCH IN 2018
Background: MagGrow is a patented technology that uses permanent, rare Earth magnets as part of an integrated, proprietary system for droplet formation that yields superior drift reduction and spray coverage performance.“Our customers are seeing two core benefits – 80% drift reduction and at least 30% to 40% improved coverage depending on the crop,” says Gary Wickham. ...The company has raised over $10 million to date.
WaterBit: Uses AT&T Connectivity in Smart Irrigation Solution
IoT Technology Helps Farmers Grow More With Less
SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- WaterBit and AT&T* are making automated irrigation easier for growers. WaterBit chose AT&T to provide highly secure connectivity to its autonomous irrigation solution. The smart irrigation solution helps farmers increase yield and conserve resources. …In-field data collection of soil moisture and nutrients gives farmers near real-time insight into crop conditions. Integrating data collection with WaterBit's cloud-based software lets growers monitor and analyze soil moisture, as well as plan and control irrigation with pinpoint accuracy.
TMD Technoglogy Solutions: Join TMD Technology Solutions March 27-28, 2018 for the Fifth Annual Salinas Valley Agricultural Technology Summit at Hartnelle College’s Main Campus. The event is hosted by the Agricultural Business and Technology Institute at Hartnell College in collaboration with the Monterey Bay Chapter of the CA Association of Pest Control Advisors (CAPCA). Guests will enjoy a wide variety of speakers and panel presentations on the topics of crop protection, the future of farming, automation, harvest technology, innovation, worker safety and regulations. There will be an expanded exhibition, demonstrations and much much more. Event admission is FREE to attendees and all proceeds from sponsorships and the exhibition will benefit the Hartnell College Agriculture Business and Technology Institute students.
Tailwater Systems: Register now for February’s Tech Talk® with Tailwater Systems. Join us on February 20, 2018 at 3 pm PST where Tailwater Systems will discuss how their high-performance bioreactors can help remove nitrates and other contaminants from field drainage and drinking water wells.