Cargill pilots tech for more efficient cotton irrigation
Commodity trading giant Cargill is partnering with Australia-based Goanna Ag to test new technology advancing irrigation efficiency on cotton fields in the southern U.S.
The pilot will be available to a select number of cotton growers in Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi, according to a release. Participants will receive installation and training of Goanna Ag's GoField technology platform, which uses sensors, satellite imagery, weather forecasts and other crop data to allow for precise irrigation.
The Mississippi Delta region, the third-largest area of irrigated cropland in the U.S., has experienced a significant decline in groundwater levels, threatening water availability for farms in the area.
“Major retail brands have set goals related to water and are increasingly looking to supply chain partners like Cargill for data-backed sustainability solutions," Matt Dunbar, managing director of Cargill’s cotton business, said in a statement. "This pilot project underscores Cargill’s commitment to helping our customers meet those ambitions to advance sustainable agriculture and water conservation."
Paper producer invests in crop imaging startup for precision forest management
One of the world's largest pulp producers has invested in a Brazil-based agtech startup as part of an effort to advance precision silviculture.
Suzano's venture arm made an undisclosed investment in BemAgro as part of the software provider's most recent $2.6 million funding round. BemAgro, which received a minority stake investment from CNH earlier this year, uses artificial intelligence to convert aerial field images from drones or satellites into actionable reports to help farmers optimize operations.
The paper and pulp producer plans to use BemAgro's tech to enhance eucalyptus farming operations. The companies are partnering to create a new algorithm designed specifically for eucalyptus farming, which will help Suzano advance its silviculture capabilities.
"By facilitating more detailed monitoring of our seedlings, this technology will allow us to better assess the quality of growth at this critical stage, when the long-term health of the tree is mostly determined," Álvaro Gómez Rodríguez, senior manager at Suzano Ventures, said in a statement.
Rock mapping startup TerraClear taps FBN exec as CEO
A startup that helps farmers rid their fields of rocks is tapping a new CEO months after a $15 million funding round.
TerraClear appointed Devin Lammers to chief executive.Outgoing CEO Brent Frei will remain with the company as board chair. Lammers joins from Farmer Business Network, founding and serving as president of FBN Financial and grain sustainability platform Gradable.
TerraClear offers farmers mapping software to spot rocks in fields before they damage farm equipment or become issues during the planting cycle. The company also manufactures a rock picker with a picking rate of 400 rocks per hour.
"The company's technological capabilities, vertically integrated service model, and relatively uncontested market entry point present a tremendous opportunity," Lammers said in a statement. "I look forward to working with the team to engage farmers, grow recurring revenue, and explore strategic partnerships as we advance TerraClear's leadership in the AgTech space.”
