In an era where the agricultural industry is embracing technological innovation like never before, we present you a list of 20 startups to watch that are at the forefront, revolutionizing the way we farm and manage our food supply. From harnessing the power of agricultural photogrammetry and early-stage plant disease detection for precision farming to ensuring the health of poultry and livestock through cutting-edge biosecurity measures and livestock antibiotics alternatives, these startups are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
The startups are also utilizing insect farming surveillance to optimize protein production, and employing crop mapping and remote sensors for farm monitoring to enhance crop yields and resource efficiency. Join us as we dive into their groundbreaking work and explore the AgriTech landscape of 2024. This article was originally published in March 2023 and updated in October 2023.
20 Top AgriTech Startups to Watch in 2024
- Agrobit – Agricultural Photogrammetry
- YieldX – Poultry Biosecurity
- Bug Mars – Insect Farming Surveillance
- Agristry – Crop Mapping
- RoboCare – Early-stage Plant Disease Detection
- Harpe Bio – Sustainable Weed Management
- Peptobiotics – Livestock Antibiotics Alternative
- BarnTools – Barn Monitoring
- Farmo – Remote Sensors for Farm Monitoring
- hexafarms – Harvest Tracking for Indoor Farming
- SAM-DIMENSION – AI-powered Weed Detection
- Lumo – Cloud-based Irrigation Automation
- AkoFresh – Post Harvest Storage
- Werms – Upcycled Livestock Feed
- MOVE ON – Autonomous Kit for Tractors
- Cropway – Sustainable AgTech Supply Chain
- Algaenite – Biofertilizers from Nitrogen fixing Microalgae
- Talpalabs – Weather Condition Monitoring
- Nanobubble Agritech – Irrigation Retrofit System
- Ground Truth Agriculture – Grain Supply Chain Management
Global Startup Heat Map highlights 20 AgriTech Startups to Watch
Through the Big Data & Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering over 3 790 000+ startups & scaleups globally, we identified 5274 AgriTech startups. The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights the 20 AgriTech startups you should watch in 2024 as well as the geo-distribution of all AgriTech startups & scaleups we analyzed for this research.
Based on the heat map, we see high startup activity in India and Western Europe, followed by the USA. These AgriTech startups work on solutions ranging from agricultural photogrammetry and barn monitoring to early-stage plant disease detection and sustainable weed management.
Want to explore all 5200+ AgriTech startups & scaleups?
As the world’s largest resource for data on emerging companies, the SaaS platform enables you to identify relevant technologies and industry trends quickly & exhaustively. Based on the data from the platform, the Top 5 AgriTech Startup Hubs are in London, Bangalore, Singapore, Hyderabad & New York City. The 20 hand-picked startups highlighted in this report are chosen from all over the world and develop solutions for early-stage plant disease detection, poultry biosecurity, crop mapping, and more.
Explore 20 Innovative AgriTech Startups to Watch (2024)
Agrobit provides Agricultural Photogrammetry
Agrobit is an Italian startup that makes a decision support system, iAgro. This mobile app uses agricultural photogrammetry to allow farmers to digitally scan and model portions of their crops using a smartphone. By taking photos of their fields or trees and uploading them to the cloud, farmers view 3D models of the scanned areas. The app then provides height, thickness, canopy volume, leaf area index, leaf wall area, and tree row volume metrics.
Farmers create precision agriculture maps by sampling multiple scattered points within a field. These maps show vegetative vigor and variability, helping farmers optimize inputs and focus resources. Repeated scans build a history of each field to compare crop evolution between seasons. Farmers are thus able to generate prescription maps to variably treat crops based on need in different phenological stages and field areas.
YieldX enhances Poultry Biosecurity
Israeli startup YieldX offers biosecurity solutions that use sensors, machine learning, and IoT to provide real-time biosecurity insights for poultry farms. The startup’s technology leverages vision, sound, and smell to monitor farm environments continuously with no human intervention. YieldX develops RedMiteSense, a smart sensor that uses AI to enable continuous monitoring and early detection of red mites in layer poultry farming.
Its other product, BioCore, positioned in fixed locations, monitors ambient conditions and live inventory movements. Whereas, TrolleyMateTag is attached to an egg/chick trolley or transport and monitors eggs and chicks in motion. The startup’s AI-based platform analyzes the data collected from these devices and alerts the farm owners about potential threats. So, by detecting disease outbreaks and pest infestations early on, YieldX enables farmers to proactively address poultry farming issues and maximize yield.
Bug Mars offers Insect Farming Surveillance
Canadian startup BugMars optimizes insect farm management through artificial intelligence (AI). Its platform, Hexapod, offers 24-hour surveillance using cameras and sensors, eliminating manual checks for pests, food/water reserves, mold, temperature, humidity, and hatching. Hexapod captures images and instantaneously reviews them, continuously tracking temperature, pests, and insect count.
Over time, the system predicts potential issues, recommends actions, and refines its accuracy and predictions with the increased data flow. A dashboard provides automated alerts directly to devices and allows customization based on individual needs. Thus, through detailed sensor data and continuous alerts, the platform expands productivity, reduces insect mortality, and streamlines farming processes in general.
Agristry advances Crop Mapping
Australian startup Agristry makes a precision agriculture platform that enables crop mapping through drone imagery analysis and plant indices. The software creates crop health maps and monitors field development over the season. It identifies patterns to generate diagnostic maps that are downloadable as shapefiles for machinery. The startup uses computer vision, AI, and spatial tech to provide valuable insights on plant count, harvest readiness of crops, stress detection, and more.
Agristry also creates weed maps that accurately display the location of infested areas so that farmers are able to tackle weeds before they pose a serious threat. Additionally, the startup offers 3D land survey models to analyze the terrain. Farmers gain valuable insights for land use and development which they are able to leverage for designing efficient field management strategies.
RoboCare enables Early-stage Plant Disease Detection
RoboCare is a startup from Tunisia that advances early disease detection in greenhouses using hyperspectral imaging and AI. Its solutions, Crop-Care and Toma-Care detect stressed plants before pests are visible when infections are still controllable. Hyperspectral cameras capture near-infrared signals that plant signatures use to differentiate healthy versus stressed plants.
RoboCare also analyzes up-to-date drone, plane, and satellite imagery using crop models and AI to map nutrient deficiencies, diseases, pests, and weeds. The startup provides customized recommendations to optimally manage lands and crops. RoboCare’s digital monitoring system thus enables to farmers address plant health issues before significant crop damage.
Harpe Bio enables Sustainable Weed Management
Harpe Bio is a USA-based startup that formulates natural herbicides from plant extracts such as menthol, carbon, and other molecules. These natural herbicides act as alternatives to synthetic chemical herbicides which potentially have significant adverse effects on plant health.
However, Harpe Bio’s bioherbicides control weeds that have developed resistance and work alone or with other herbicides. The startup’s herbicides thus help organic farmers who lack effective weed control options while also enabling sustainability and safer food for consumers.
Peptobiotics formulates a Livestock Antibiotics Alternative
Singaporean startup Peptobiotics offers a synthetic biology alternative to livestock antibiotics. It deploys a proprietary precision fermentation process that uses recombinant peptides as replacements for animal antibiotics. The startup promotes growth and shielding against pathogens with a novel antibiotic alternative that does not induce resistance. This way, Peptobiotics develops feed additives that enhance animal welfare, gut health, and growth without the risk of drug resistance.
BarnTools provides Barn Monitoring
USA-based startup Barntools provides BarnTalk, a self-connecting barn alarm for swine and poultry producers. BarnTalk Gateway ensures reliable connectivity, automatically connecting without the need for landlines, WiFi, or cell plans. Designed for remote areas, BarnTalk operates with minimal data and has a self-testing feature that alerts if the system becomes unresponsive.
The accompanying app enables users to set sensor thresholds and monitor barn environments in real-time. A suite of wireless sensors measuring temperature and humidity aids in complete monitoring. Users gain insights into their barn’s conditions, receiving timely notifications via call, text messages, or push notifications. It also monitors trends to preemptively address potential issues.
Farmo makes Remote Sensors for Farm Monitoring
Australian startup Farmo provides IoT solutions for farm monitoring leveraging LoRaWAN and NB-IoT technology. Its products include the Water Rat, a tank and trough sensor that offers real-time water level monitoring. Also, its Water Tank Level Monitor allows users to monitor tank levels frequently, ensuring timely water supply management.
Another product, the Electric Fence Sensor, sends alerts when fence voltage drops, ensuring livestock containment. Farmo’s Gate Sensor detects metal drop-latch in the closed position, which eliminates the problems of false alerts caused by wind or animals rubbing on the gate.
hexafarms enables Harvest Tracking for Indoor Farming
Hexafarms is a German startup that develops hexaBM, an AgriTech platform that allows greenhouses and vertical indoor farms to track their harvests from seedling to harvest. It continually measures bio-physical factors such as CO2 levels, temperature, humidity, pH, etc., that affect plant growth.
The platform uses machine learning to analyze the data collected through sensors to provide insights into plant growth, stomatal activity, and photosynthetic activity. It also infers trends and predictions about plant growth. Thus, hexafarms enables farmers to optimize crop growth conditions and boost yield.
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SAM-DIMENSION enables AI-powered Weed Detection
German startup SAM-DIMENSION leverages computer vision and data science to simplify agricultural field surveys. The startup’s weed mapping solution utilizes drones to help farmers identify weeds early on. It links the identified weed seedlings to their precise geolocation. Then, the solution utilizes this data to create a digital map for precise herbicide application with a field sprayer. SAM-DIMENSION thus improves weed control and enhances machine efficiency, enabling farmers to optimize crop yields and reduce costs.
Lumo offers Cloud-based Irrigation Automation
US-based startup Lumo provides irrigation automation solutions for growers. For this, the startup develops a wireless, solar-powered, and connected smart irrigation valve. Its built-in sensor provides growers with accurate flow monitoring and control over water usage. The startup also offers intuitive management software that allows growers to schedule irrigation based on volume or duration.
Further, it detects water leaks and stops irrigation automatically to eliminate flooded fields and water wastage. The startup’s cloud-managed system further allows access, monitoring, and updating of irrigation systems remotely. Its features benefit growers in reducing costs and saving water while ensuring maximum crop yield.
AkoFresh facilitates Post Harvest Storage
AkoFresh is a Ghana-based startup that provides preservation services for smallholder farmers to reduce post-harvest losses. The startup’s solar-powered cold storage preservation technology extends the shelf life of fruits and vegetables up to 21 days. It consists of cold room panels, solar panels, sensors, a compressor, and an air cooler that makes up the smart solar-powered cool box.
This internet of things (IoT)-enabled, mobile off-grid cold storage technology avoids crop spoilage while farmers find buyers or middlemen. AkoFresh’s solution also benefits the environment as it reduces greenhouse gas emissions and conserves environmental resources.
Werms provides Upcycled Livestock Feed
Singaporean startup Werms upcycles local food waste into sustainable livestock feed and organic fertilizer for animals and plants. The startup’s product range includes crickets, mealworms, super worms, dried insects, and fertilizers that are parasite-free and environmentally friendly.
To make them, Werms collects pre-consumer waste from wholesale centers and uses proprietary processes to manufacture high-quality animal feed and organic fertilizers. It also offers just-in-time (JIT) services for farmers to get fresh livestock feed at their convenience. Werms’ solution reduces food waste and helps farmers improve their animal feed quality and soil health.
MOVE ON enables Autonomous Tractors
Turkish startup MOVE ON develops TASAI, an autonomous tractor kit that enhances tractor performance in the field. It analyzes camera images using AI to extract routes in real time. Further, the kit enables remote intervention through the cloud. With TASAI, tractors perform sowing and post-sowing processes autonomously. This results in the prevention of issues such as overlapping and double planting. The kit also ensures optimal seed and fertilizer usage while saving fuel and time.
Cropway ensures Sustainable AgTech Supply Chains
Indian startup Cropway makes an integrated AgTech platform that offers technology-enabled, sustainability-focused supply chain solutions. It features geospatial crop advisory and farm intelligence tools that use AI-powered algorithms to provide real-time price forecasting and pest or disease detection. Besides, the platform enables fertilizer calculation and crop prediction.
Its seller studio helps farmers connect with buyers, processors, and output agencies to sell their produce. Additionally, its marketplace offers doorstep delivery for agriculture-related inputs, chemicals, and commodities. This enables agribusiness stakeholders to make data-driven decisions, improve productivity, and enhance profitability.
Algaenite makes Biofertilizers from Nitrogen fixing Microalgae
Israeli startup Algaenite produces biofertilizers from the air using nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria. The startup’s patented solar-powered process utilizes automated photo-bioreactors to produce bio-nitrogen fertilizer onsite. This technology delivers an eco-friendly, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative to the traditional Haber-Bosch fertilizer production means.
Moreover, the organic fertilizer fully dissolves in water and offers a good yield. It is free of pathogens and hormones as well as features a negative carbon footprint. Algaenite thus allows farmers to ensure sustainable food production.
Talpalabs simplifies Weather Condition Monitoring
Italian startup Talpalabs provides a meteorological monitoring system. It consists of an agricultural sensor, Mole, and a companion mobile application, Talpa, for monitoring the farm weather conditions. The system offers data on temperature, soil humidity, and more.
The startup’s sensor uses low-power wide area networks (LoRaWAN) connectivity for data transmission, minimizing management costs and maximizing availability. It also measures soil moisture to optimize crop irrigation. Talpa‘s push notifications also alert farmers on weather conditions and irrigation requirements, preventing crop damage and improving crop quality.
Nanobubble Agritech offers a Smart Irrigation System
New Zealand-based startup Nanobubble Agritech leverages nanobubble technology to develop a smart irrigation system for farmers. The startup retrofits existing irrigation systems with its solution. Then, its pressurized dissolution technique infuses supersaturated levels of oxygen into irrigation water.
This allows water to hold up more oxygen than usual. With this, Nanobubble AgriTech increases plant growth and improves soil structure and health. It also increases moisture retention in soil, maximizing production potential.
Ground Truth Agriculture aids Grain Supply Chain Management
Canadian startup Ground Truth Agriculture provides real-time grain quality data for agri supply chains. The startup’s platform combines advanced machine vision tools and lab techniques to conduct grain analysis and provide insights. With real-time analysis, farmers make informed decisions on marketing, soil management, and crop production practices.
This allows them to optimize on-farm value. The platform also improves seed-to-sale traceability, delivers precise location-based insights, and ensures accurate sampling. Consequently, the platform enhances quality management and grain inventory value.
Discover All Emerging AgriTech Startups
The AgriTech startups showcased in this report are only a small sample of all startups we identified through our data-driven startup scouting approach. Download our free AgriTech Innovation Report for a broad overview of the industry or get in touch for quick & exhaustive research on the latest technologies & emerging solutions that will impact your company in 2024!
