Israeli Companies Team Up On Crop Screening, Pest Treatment 

Two Israeli companies are combining their respective robotics and AI technology to improve autonomous crop screening and monitoring at vineyards, while also reducing the use of harmful pesticides.

Fermata’s AI-driven Croptimus platform, which uses data science and computer vision solutions to detect pests and diseases, will be integrated into agRE.tech’s robotic operating system for sustainable autonomous agrivoltaic (using land for both solar energy and crops) farming, in order to create a fully autonomous crop management system. 

The collaboration means that growers can concentrate on countering harmful threats to their crops instead of focusing on trying to detect them. 

Croptimus scans fields round the clock, analyzing each plant for a potential threat. If a threat is detected, it will send an alert to the agRE.tech system, which will then selectively spray the exact location – reducing the amount of pesticides required.  

“We are thrilled to collaborate with agRE.tech because its model, which combines advanced robotics and agri-photovoltaics to sustainably boost farm productivity, represents a blueprint for sustainable farming that addresses other industry challenges,” said Fermata founder and CEO Valeria Kogan. 

“Tackling global warming and food insecurity are massive challenges but agRE.tech’s approach kills two birds with one stone by integrating robots in agri-solar fields to handle major farming operations, saving farmers money on labor and enabling additional income,” she said.  

“Croptimus thoroughly impressed us thanks to its advanced capabilities in disease detection and pest management, perfectly complementing our cutting-edge A²PV operating system,” says agRE.tech CEO and co-founder Elad Levy. 

“Our mission is to serve as an enabler in the fast-growing agrivoltaics market and provide a game-changing solution agri-photovoltaic business model by getting the most out of our renewable energy by leveraging robotics, AI, controlled PV panels, and other advanced technologies to set a new standard in agriculture,” he said. 

“Fermata was the perfect partner to help us address crop disease prevention and pest management.”