Israeli Startup’s Pollination Platform Boosts Pistachio Harvest In US

The pollination platform of an Israeli agritech startup has increased pistachio harvest in California by 19 percent, hitting an all-time record in crop production. 

Edete Precision Technologies of Agriculture creates a precision pollination service designed to secure and increase crop production. The service addresses challenges faced by farmers, including climate change adaptation and the decrease of natural pollinators such as bees. 

In the current project, Edete conducted pollination in 500 acres of pistachios in Bakersfield, California – one of the largest pistachio orchards in the US. The startup employed its mechanical pollinator to disperse pure pollen. 

In 2021, Edete also achieved 24-percent growth in an orchard in the northern Sacramento region, also in California. 

The startup’s technology includes a bank that can store pollen for over five years and an autonomous pollen dispenser that ensures controlled and accurate pollination. 

“The increase in yield for the third consecutive year in 2023 underscores the effectiveness of precision pollination in overcoming natural pollination deficiencies,” said Edete CEO Eylam Ran. 

“This not only ensures optimal yields, even in record crop years but also contributes to agricultural resilience and food security for consumers.”