Another agtech firm, Benson Hill, uses AI to breed high-protein, high-yield soybeans and yellow peas. The company's machine learning interface, CropOs, inputs various data to optimize the breeding process. Benson Hill's products have been adopted by farmers across more than 300,000 acres. Both companies highlight the potential of AI in predictive analytics and robotics to continue transforming the agtech industry.
Key takeaways:
- Verdant Robotics’ Model 3 Smart Sprayer, an AI-powered machine that clips onto any tractor, targets weeds 20 times more accurately than its nearest competitor and uses up to 96% less herbicide than traditional sprayers.
- AgFunder, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm specializing in agtech and foodtech, is one of the investors in Verdant. The firm has grown to about $200 million in assets under management since launching its first venture funds in 2017.
- Benson Hill, another agtech firm, uses AI to breed high-protein, high-yield soybeans and yellow peas. The company's process relies on the plant’s own genome and factors in operational details like budget and lab capacity.
- Despite the growing interest in agtech, the industry faces challenges such as war, inflation, and supply-chain disruptions. Additionally, venture capital investors are retreating to their core competencies, making it more difficult for agtech startups to secure funding.