After tripling its sales during the last three months, ecoRobotix, the Swiss provider of AI-based ultra-high precision farming solutions has secured funding for the next corporate development steps. The funding will speed up series production, support R&D efforts and drive European expansion forward.
The funding of USD 14.7 million was led by Swisscom Ventures together with Verve Ventures and was strongly supported by existing ecoRobotix investors, including CapAgro, 4FO Ventures and BASF Venture Capital. With the proceeds, ecoRobotix will accelerate the high-volume series production of their pulled ARA plant protection spraying machine and drive its European expansion forward.
The proceeds will also support the company's intense R&D efforts geared to constantly adding new crops for treatment, developing autonomous spraying solutions as well as new cloud-based services for clients entailing advanced ICT technologies such as 5G. Swisscom and ecoRobotix will be cooperating in the development of these new cloud-based services and solutions for sustainable agriculture.
ecoRobotix’ ARA plant protection spraying machine ARA uses AI, its vision and computer systems to detect and selectively spray the weeds with a micro-dose of herbicide. The centimetre-precise detection and spraying reduces the volume of herbicide used up to 95%, while ensuring crops are not sprayed for yield preservation. In addition to weeding operations, ARA can also be used to selectively spray the crop with insecticides, fungicides or fertilizers.
Sales tripled
The deployment of ARA machines by an increasing number of clients, including agricultural contractors covering hundreds of hectares per month, has already confirmed the expected impressive results under live conditions in demanding working environments. "We see a rapidly growing demand for our products in the market", relates Claude Juriens, CBO of ecoRobotix. "We tripled our sales during the last few months and are experiencing enthusiastic feedback from our customers."
The company deploys cameras and advanced machine learning algorithms in its plant protection spraying machine to precisely identify the type and location of weeds in different crops or to identify crops infested with fungus or insects. Spray nozzles then apply a micro-dose of the respective plant protection product - extremely targeted down to an area as small as 3 x 8 cm. The innovative machine construction protects beneficial insects such as bees and prevents spray drifting. By comparison with conventional spraying machines, farmers are able to save up to 95% of plant protection products. Consequently, the solution allows them to effectively eliminate plant protection residues in food and water. ARA offers a compelling quick return on investment of less than three years, while reducing total costs of plant protection measures by up to 40% and boosting crop yields by 5-10%.
"Swisscom Ventures is proud to support a cutting edge Swiss agri-tech solution with venture capital and 5G technology competence. ecoRobotix solutions not only assist producers in reducing their use of plant protection products by up to 95%, but also in lowering their operating costs. This enables the production of high-quality crops and non-contaminated food at affordable prices", as Dominique Megret, Head of Swisscom Ventures, commented.
(Press release / SK)
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