As the agricultural sector faces unprecedented challenges and opportunities, the new wave of agritech companies isn’t just planting seeds — they’re cultivating a whole new field. By introducing groundbreaking solutions in areas like sustainable farming, precision agriculture, and climate-smart practices, these new agriculture companies are becoming vital partners for organizations looking to thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape. This article will provide actionable insights on:
Key Takeaways
Drawing on insights from the Discovery Platform, which covers a comprehensive database of 3.7+ million startups and scaleups globally, we look into the evolving landscape of the agritech sector. This platform’s extensive data sheds light on the current trends, industry statistics, and emerging companies shaping the future of agriculture.
- AgriTech Trends to Watch: Key agritech trends include Robotics for farm automation, IoT for connected agriculture, Digital Agriculture for data-driven insights, Indoor Agriculture for controlled environment agriculture (CEA), Regenerative Farming for ecosystem restoration, and Precision Agriculture for targeted farm management.
- Agriculture Industry Stats: The agritech sector, with 153 170 active companies, has seen a dip of 1.52% annual growth rate over the last five years. Despite this, it maintains a strong workforce of 12.2 million, showing resilience and potential for innovation.
- 10 AgriTech Companies to Watch: In the last five years, 26 713 new agritech companies have emerged, indicating a surge in innovation and a vibrant, growing sector ready to tackle today’s agricultural challenges. A selection of these include:
Top AgTech Trends Transforming the Farming Landscape
The agritech sector, according to the Discovery Platform, shows a dynamic and evolving industry, comprising 153K+ companies with a workforce of 12.2 million, despite a slight decline in growth rate over the past five years. But what exactly are these companies focusing on, and how are they influencing the agricultural landscape?
Here are the key trends that are redefining agriculture:
Agri Robotics
Robotics in agriculture is revolutionizing the way farming is done, from automated planting and harvesting to drone-assisted crop monitoring. Companies are leveraging robotics to increase efficiency, reduce labor costs, and enhance precision in farming operations.
IoT (Internet of Things)
IoT is transforming agriculture into a more connected and data-driven industry. Sensors and smart devices are enabling farmers to monitor crops and livestock in real-time, leading to more informed decision-making and optimized resource use.
Digital Agriculture
This trend involves the integration of digital technology into all aspects of farming. Companies are creating software platforms for better farm management, data analysis, and predictive modeling. This contributes to smarter, more efficient agricultural practices.
Indoor Agriculture
Indoor agriculture, or controlled environment agriculture, allows for year-round crop production irrespective of external weather conditions. Companies in this space are innovating in areas like hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics, promoting sustainable and scalable farming.
Regenerative Agriculture
Regenerative agriculture is gaining traction as a way to restore soil health and biodiversity. Companies are developing practices and products that support soil regeneration, carbon sequestration, and overall ecosystem health, aiming for a more sustainable agricultural model.
Precision Agriculture
Precision farming involves the use of technology to manage field variations precisely. Through satellite imagery, GPS technology, and other tools, companies are enabling farmers to optimize inputs like water and fertilizer, thus improving yields and reducing environmental impact.
Introducing 10 New AgriTech Companies [Selection]
In this section, we highlight 10 emerging agritech companies that are pioneering the future of the industry. These companies are not just adapting to industry changes; they’re leading them with groundbreaking technologies and innovative approaches to farming. From advanced robotics to sustainable practices, they represent the cutting edge of agricultural innovation.
Note on Signal Strength
One of the unique metrics we feature for each company is Signal Strength, a proprietary data point generated by our Discovery Platform. Signal Strength gauges the extent to which a company’s influence has permeated the global ecosystem of startups, scaleups, and emerging companies. This proprietary metric serves as a valuable guidepost for understanding a company’s standing in the broader market landscape.
1. VM Agritech
Founding Year: 2016
Employee Range: 2-10
Location: USA
Signal Strength: Very Strong
What they do: VM Agritech has developed Curezin, a broad-spectrum fungicide, which benefits farmers and crop producers by safeguarding their yields. This innovative product, validated for its efficacy and safety through research at the University of Exeter and Cornell University, has undergone independent trials demonstrating its effectiveness against pathogenic resistance in various crops.
2. Micron Agritech
Founding Year: 2018
Employee Range: 11-50
Location: USA
Signal Strength: Very Strong
What they do: Its Micron Kit, utilizing artificial intelligence, swiftly detects animal parasites from videos uploaded to a mobile app. This tool is primarily used by veterinarians for quick and accurate identification of parasites like roundworm and nematode eggs, streamlining diagnosis compared to traditional lab methods.
3. Smart Agritech
Founding Year: 2016
Employee Range: 2-10
Location: Sweden
Signal Strength: Very Strong
What they do: Smart Agritech’s Pigxcel offers an AI-driven pig-weighing system using camera technology. It benefits farmers by facilitating stress-free daily weigh-ins, optimizing pig growth monitoring, slaughter weights, and feed intake while enhancing animal welfare and work safety.
4. Satyukt
Founding Year: 2018
Employee Range: 11-50
Location: India
Signal Strength: Very Strong
What they do: Satyukt’s web application, Sat4agri, analyzes the regional impacts of farm-level practices. It serves agricultural supply chains and input companies by tracking pest and disease patterns and aids climate activists in assessing the climate impacts of agricultural techniques.
5. MOVE ON
Founding Year: 2020
Employee Range: 1-10
Location: Turkey
Signal Strength: Very Strong
What they do: MOVE ON specializes in AI and autonomous solutions for sustainable farming, including its TASAI autonomous tractor kit. The startup combines computer vision and sensor fusion to increase agricultural yields, contributing to the growth and sustainability of the food industry.
6. RLF AgTech
Founding Year: 2017
Employee Range: 51-200
Location: Australia
Signal Strength: Very Strong
What they do: RLF AgTech is developing Plant Proton Delivery (PPD) technology to boost crop yields and nutritional value as well as improve soil health. It enhances plant root systems while reducing traditional fertilizer needs, as well as focuses on sustainable agriculture and combating climate change.
7. Insignum AgTech
Founding Year: 2018
Employee Range: 1-10
Location: USA
Signal Strength: Very Strong
What they do: Insignum’s Plant Intelligence technology enables plants to signal specific issues through visible color changes. This innovation aids farmers in quickly identifying and addressing agricultural problems, which improve crop yields and reduce labor costs.
8. Ekobot
Founding Year: 2018
Employee Range: 2-10
Location: Sweden
Signal Strength: Very Strong
What they do: Ekobot’s WEAI, an AI-driven autonomous robotic system, advances sustainable agriculture. It performs electricity-powered weeding for extended hours on crops like onions and carrots. This system also detects crop issues to increase yields and reduce herbicide use.
9. Nanobubble Agritech
Founding Year: 2020
Employee Range: 2-10
Location: New Zealand
Signal Strength: Strong
What they do: Nanobubble’s irrigation technology enhances plant growth, yield, and disease resistance by oxygenating water with stable nanobubbles. Its ability to generate high dissolved oxygen levels and nanobubble concentrations promises to improve agricultural production and resource efficiency.
10. Agro Innova
Founding Year: 2017
Employee Range: 11-50
Location: Ghana
Signal Strength: Very Strong
What they do: Agro Innova develops digital tools for smallholder farmers in Africa, offering market access, inputs, and financing. Its software allows farmers to formalize activities and make data-driven decisions, with the goal of digitizing agriculture and improving livelihoods in African farming communities.
As these and more agriculture companies further advance the industry, they are not just participating in the agricultural sector; they are actively reshaping it. These organizations are pivotal in how we approach, manage, and revolutionize farming, becoming indispensable partners for anyone looking to stay at the forefront of agricultural innovation and sustainability.
Quick Tip to Find New AgriTech Companies
When scouting for new agritech companies, incorporating SaaS platforms like the Discovery Platform, greatly enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of your search. This platform, with its automated tools and comprehensive database of 3.7M+ startups globally, surpasses traditional scouting methods in several key areas:
- Efficiency: Automated scouting tools streamline the research process, significantly reducing time and effort compared to manual scouting methods.
- Real-time Data: The Discovery Platform is constantly updated, offering the latest information on emerging trends and companies in the agritech sector, crucial for timely and informed decision-making.
- Customization: With advanced filtering options, you can customize your search to focus on specific areas of interest in agritech, such as sustainable farming practices, precision agriculture, or innovative crop management solutions.
Preview: StartUs Insights’ Discovery Platform
Next Steps
Having explored the dynamic field of agritech, we’ve highlighted significant trends and promising companies shaping the industry. To dive deeper, download our detailed AgriTech Report for free or schedule a demo of the Discovery Platform for a personalized scouting experience.
