(Times of Israel) David Shamah - Israeli agricultural technology firm AutoAgronom was one of 25 finalists chosen from 128 participants at the biggest start-up contest in the world, MassChallenge 2014. In September, the company was acquired by Yuanda Enterprise Group, a Chinese conglomerate. With the acquisition, AutoAgronom will bring its advanced, smart sensor drip irrigation technology to the world's most populous country. AutoAgronom uses sensors attached to plant roots embedded in the ground to analyze soil conditions, weather, water levels, and nutrient levels in the soil, and pest conditions. The system then directs the computerized water and pest control systems on exactly how much of each to release and when to release it for maximum positive effect. In the UK, for example, strawberry farmers have been able to cut down on water use by 30% and increase yield by 28% while reducing their use of pesticides by 70%.
2014-11-07 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive