Agtech and feed orientated startups look to disrupt farming with IoT, AI, and novel feed proteins

Agtech-and-feed-orientated-startups-look-to-disrupt-farming-with-IoT-AI-and-novel-feed-proteins.jpg
© GettyImages/10'000 Hours (Getty Images)

Nearly a dozen innovators are participating in the virtual Animal AgTech Innovation Summit on October 19-20.

The event aims to accelerate opportunities for innovators as they raise their profile and connect with potential investors and partners among industry decision-makers.

Better Origin, a UK company delivering a fully autonomous insect farm that converts waste into feed with the help of insects, is participating. The startup claims just one unit can save 565 tons of CO2 per year. “Powered by AI, it takes care of all stages of farming, so the farmer doesn’t have to.”

Biotangents, another UK player, will also be in attendance. That startup combines machine learning bioinformatics, customizable biology workflows and advanced microfluidics to deliver the next generation of veterinary diagnostics for point of care use.

Concept Dairy, again UK headquartered, is looking to enhance price transparency in the dairy supply chain. Its free Concept Dairy Farmer App will be showcased. It indicates to farmers how much their milk is worth and can lock in their price for up to two years based on live, accurate market prices, which provide daily updates. The startup’s Commodities Trading Risk Management Platform help milk processors to understand and manage their risk.

EniferBio, a Finnish startup producing single cell protein, will also be present at the summit. It won the Nutreco Feed & Food Tech Challenge 2020. The biotech’s mycoprotein feed for aquaculture, PEKILO P65, is made using renewable raw materials, close to end users, and is said to offer a sustainable alternative to soy protein concentrate.

Also being showcased is Farm Health Guardian, a product of Ontario, Canada based track and trace tech provider, Be Seen Be Safe Ltd. It is a biosecurity software platform that is designed to reduce the risk of disease transfer. By creating a virtual perimeter around a farm property and digitally recording movement of people and vehicles, the company said the system helps producers protect animal health and welfare while saving time and money.

Israel’s FarmSee is also taking part in the event. It utilizes computer vision and AI to provide the pig production industry with critical information so far unattainable.

The company said that, currently, critical KPIs, such as an individual pig’s continuous weight, is unavailable due to animal welfare concerns, biosecurity and labor intensity. “Pig producers, who have a clear goal of reaching a specific target weight, are forced to rely on theoretical growth tables instead of their actual data, resulting in significant inefficiencies. FarmSee’s solution provides actionable insights driving significant revenue growth and cost optimization, while ensuring animal welfare.”

Greentech Innovators from Norway are also among the stellar lineup. The company is using biotechnology and fermentation to produce single cell protein and organic fertilizer from food waste. Its wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from landfills and increase protein and omega-3 feed production.

Pondus from the UK will also be participating. Pondus’ technology is a camera-based solution providing 24/7 touchless monitoring, measurement and reporting for poultry production. Its solution is based on machine learning and deep data analytics delivered through plug-and-play hardware. The company said it enables early detection of potential issues, improving bird health, welfare and productivity.

India’s PorkLogic facilitates the end-to-end management of livestock wellness and remote monitoring. By providing wearables for livestock and harnessing deep tech like IoT, AI, advanced machine learning models, and cloud, the company said it can help to improve swine health management and enhanced farm practices.

Sweden’s Volta Greentech will be showcasing its innovative approach to methane emissions reduction, a seaweed-based feed supplement for use in dairy and beef production .

A further start-up will join the showcase after the winner of the Global Aquaculture Challenge final is revealed on October 7, hosted by The Yield Lab, said the organizers.