Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

farming

Naïo Technologies raises €14 million for farm robot business

by

Startup company Naïo Technologies has raised €14 million in a new funding round to develop and expand its farming robots business.

After a first round of €3 million in 2015, the French start-up Naïo Technologies specialized in agricultural robots, announces the closing of a €14 million funding round led by Bpifrance.

Impact investor Pymwymic and Codema and its historical shareholders, Demeter and Capagro, flanked Bpifrance in this investment round. [Read more…] about Naïo Technologies raises €14 million for farm robot business

The Impact of Cannabis Cultivation on Marijuana Farming

by

Marijuana farming and the industry associated with the sale of the products made from it have been growing steadily ever since the prohibition has been lifted in most places in North America.

The newly legal cannabis industry might still taking its first baby steps, but its contribution to the advancement of farming technology is indelible.

This is especially true for greener and more environment-friendly agricultural practices around the world. [Read more…] about The Impact of Cannabis Cultivation on Marijuana Farming

FarmWise raises $14.5 million for its weed-removing robots

by

FarmWise, a US startup which builds autonomous farming robots, has raised $14.5 million in a Series A funding round led by Calibrate Ventures.

In addition to existing investors backing FarmWise, agriculture company Wilbur Ellis, Xplorer Capital and Alumni Ventures Group are participating in the round.

The proceeds will be used to grow the company’s robotic engineering and operation teams, as well as boost R&D efforts on plant-level detection and actuation capabilities. [Read more…] about FarmWise raises $14.5 million for its weed-removing robots

Yamaha looking to invest in vertical farming companies

by

Yamaha’s agricultural technology investments leader says he is observing the vertical farming market with a view to backing startups in the sector. (See video below.)

In a wide-ranging interview with Robotics and Automation News, Nolan Paul, partner, global agricultural technology lead at Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley, says he finds vertical farming

“Vertical farming is one of those technologies which has the ability to transform the way food is grown and consumed,” says Paul. [Read more…] about Yamaha looking to invest in vertical farming companies

Ultimation reaches out to vertical farming sector with its conveyor systems

by

Ultimation is targeting the new and growing market of vertical farming sector with its conveyor systems, technology it has been supplying for more than 30 years.

The company says that sustainable agricultural operations such as vertical and indoor farms are becoming more prevalent, and “conveyor technology systems can be part of the solution”.

Ultimation says vertical farms can potentially achieve higher yields for the surface area dedicated to production by controlling the light, temperature, humidity, water and nutrients the plants receive. [Read more…] about Ultimation reaches out to vertical farming sector with its conveyor systems

Vertical farming: Professor Changhoo Chun discusses Samsung’s horticulture LEDs

by

A ‘smart farm’ is an intelligent farming system that applies information and communication technologies (ICT) to agriculture.

One example of a smart farming system is vertical farming, wherein food is produced in vertically stacked layers.

Vertical farming has been attracting attention in recent times as a potential future agricultural model thanks to the advantages it offers, including its economical use of space and resources, environmental-friendly form of cultivation, and the reliable harvesting.

[Read more…] about Vertical farming: Professor Changhoo Chun discusses Samsung’s horticulture LEDs

Top 25 vertical farming companies

by

The phrase “vertical farming” probably doesn’t need to be explained even though it’s quite new. But anyway, vertical farming refers to the practice of producing fruits and vegetables vertically, in stacked layers, perhaps on many floors inside a building, using artificial lights instead of the sun, and a whole range of relatively new technologies.

There are two main reasons why this type of farming – which is also known as indoor or urban farming – is a much-discussed topic now:

  1. there are a number of startup companies emerging in the sector and attracting tens of millions of dollars in investment; and
  2. more people live in cities than do in rural areas, a global trend which seems irreversible, and this means that the demand for fresh produce will increase in urban areas, and bringing the production closer to the consumer would make sense.

The third thing we could have added is that there is the range of new technologies available now that make vertical farming in urban areas cost-effective and possibly profitable. But we already mentioned that.

[Read more…] about Top 25 vertical farming companies

Samsung moves into the vertical farming market

by

Agricultural innovations are essential for feeding our ever-growing global population.

Especially these days, as industrialisation and global warming continue to negatively affect soil fertility and reduce the amount of arable land.

According to the United Nations, the world’s population is set to reach 9.8 billion by 2050.

[Read more…] about Samsung moves into the vertical farming market

Yara and IBM join forces to transform the future of farming

by

Yara International, a crop nutrition company, and IBM, have signed an agreement to build the world’s leading digital farming platform, providing holistic digital services and instant agronomic advice.

Yara and IBM Services will jointly innovate and commercialize digital agricultural solutions that will help increase global food production by drawing on the two companies’ complementary capabilities.

Yara’s agronomic knowledge, backed by more than 800 agronomists and a century of experience, and IBM’s digital platforms, services, and expertise in artificial intelligence and data analytics. [Read more…] about Yara and IBM join forces to transform the future of farming

Report: US vertical farming market worth $3 billion by 2024

by

The US vertical farming market is projected to reach values of around $3 billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR of more than 24% during 2018-2024, according to a new report from Research and Markets.

The vertical farming technique offers speedier supply chain for seedling production and with an eight-week turnaround time of seedling ordering system.

These systems will help farmers to meet the growing demand and offer promotions and special offers to consumers in the US market.

[Read more…] about Report: US vertical farming market worth $3 billion by 2024