Since its launch four years ago, agri tech company Aerobotics has been working on algorithms to improve the interpretation of aerial data. James Paterson, Andrew Sheard and Marloe van Niekerk spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the software.
Today, thanks to digital precision and flexibility, it is possible to measure almost any parameters with an accuracy unimaginable a few years ago. While this promises drastic improvements in efficiency, there is a risk that businesses can become overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of new data. Agri tech company Aerobotics has sought to address this issue in the agriculture sector through developing software that allows farmers to make better sense of aerial survey data.
James Paterson, co-founder and CEO of Aerobotics, explains that the system keeps track of the health of each tree in an orchard by analysing data gathered by ordinary and multispectral cameras.
“The programme uses artificial intelligence to detect pest and disease problems by distinguishing between healthy and stressed trees. By bringing farmer validation into the loop, Aerobotics gets smarter all the time, which benefits all the growers on our platform.”
According to Paterson, the software can identify the plant-damaging disease Phytophthora solely by analysing aerial data, and he and his colleagues are refining the system to identify other threats.
GLOBAL INTEREST
The Aerobotics system has attracted great interest from investors, with the company raising over R24 million in start-up funding from various parties, including Nedbank and 4Di Capital locally, and AgFunder and AngelList in the US.
“We’re using the funding for the commercialisation of the software, both locally and overseas, as well as to continue product development to make sure we’re adding as much value as possible for farmers,” says Paterson.
He claims that 40% of the South African macadamia nut industry and 20% of the country’s citrus farmers are already using his company’s software. Moreover, it has also been tailored to the unique requirements of the wine grape and pome fruit industries.
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Denne historien er fra October 26, 2018-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
