Development Bank of Wales is formed in 2001 by the Welsh Assembly Government. Development Bank of Wales is an independent company, providing commercial funding to Welsh SMEs. They invests private and public funds, including EU funds.

Development Bank of Wales

Agxio

Using artificial intelligence, data science and digital innovation, Agxio delivers actionable insights into the agriculture, biotech and life sciences industries which have been dramatically transformed by the availability of large volumes of data and advances in technologies. Agxio's Apollo platform defines the next generation of artificially intelligent machine learning innovation. The company automates the role of data scientist and enables use cases in any complex data-rich environment to deliver optimised machine learning solutions

<div>Based in the UK, Agxio uses machine-learning, AI, and data science to build a range of low-code cloud-based applications for uses in the fields of  agriculture, life sciences (including genetic research and drug discovery), and biotechnology.</div>

Sustainably solving the food shortages of the future

Smart Farming

<div>Based in the UK, Agxio uses machine learning, AI, and data science to build a range of low-code cloud-based applications for uses in the fields of  agriculture, life sciences (including genetic research, and drug discovery) and biotechnology</div>

Bringing fresh produce closer to consumers with efficient, advanced technology.

Vertical Farming

Agritech AI Specialist Agxio Raises £2.1m in Oversubscribed Pre-Series A Round

<div>
 
 Based in the UK, Agxio uses machine-learning, AI, and data science to build a range of low-code cloud-based applications for uses in the fields of  agriculture, life sciences (including genetic research and drug discovery), and biotechnology.
 
 
 In the smart farming space, Agxio offers three solutions “Mercury,” “Centaur,” and “Zeus”. Mercury uses  raw data from sensors, drones, and third-party data sources to provide real-time alerts to manage water contamination and crop input  recommendations. Centaur is a smart farming platform providing real-time analysis on areas including crop and soil health, disease detection, and yield prediction. Zeus focuses on field mapping and on pest and disease detection using drones and other crop scouting technologies. Agxio offers its solutions on a subscription basis. For instance, Agxio charges Centaur users USD 250/month.
 
 
 The company reports that it has commercialized its offering and its solution is validated across industries with use cases in arable and livestock farms as well. One of the users is Farming Connect, Wales’ governmental organization providing support to farmers, which deployed Mercury software at 18 of the latter’s demonstration farms including cattle, sheep, and poultry farms in June 2021. The project tested the viability of introducing sensor technology into these farms using the Mercury software, capturing data from Low power Long-range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) sensors to provide informed decisions on livestock management. Farming Connect reported that its farmers could improve their productivity, reduce carbon footprint, and make data-driven decisions to optimize farm operations.
 
 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9121">
 In March 2022
 </a>
 , Agxio raised GBP 2.1 million (~USD 2.74 million) in an oversubscribed pre-Series A funding round led by the Development Bank of Wales to support its scaling and international expansion plans.
 
</div>

<div>
 
 Israeli startup Taranis, focuses on providing a complete digital agronomy solution to farmers using aerial imagery technology across the US, Argentina, Brazil, Russia, Ukraine, and Australia. The company now monitors more than 20 million acres globally, 50% of which is located within the US. The company is also looking towards expanding into Asia. The startup captures aerial images using UAVs, which can be analyzed and compared using its own platform, and allows farmers to make precise decisions about planting. The company also operates an area called the “AgroBrain”, which allows precise identification of crop issues. 
 
 
 The company claims to account for 70% of the global crop market and equips farmers with the tools to address issues in real time. Similar to peers like Ceres Imaging, Taranis has partnered with incumbent players like John Deere, Syngenta, BASF, and Climate Field View to expand its product reach. As such, Taranis is regarded as a promising startup in global precision agriculture. Taranis further strengthened its aerial imagery offering by extending its partnership with DroneNerds (the largest distributor of enterprise drone solutions) and DJI (the Chinese multinational commercial UAV manufacturer) 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10126">
 in April 2022
 </a>
 .
 
 
 In 2018, the company expanded its footprint in the US when it acquired Mavrx, a US startup providing aerial imagery solutions to local farmers. Mavrx ran into financial difficulties and consolidation of the two companies yielded attractive opportunities. The consolidation allowed Taranis to integrate Mavrx’s product (full field imagery product with highest resolution on the market) into its platform, thereby fulfilling Taranis’ aim of providing a complete solution. The acquisition strengthened Taranis' offering rather than differentiating it. Taranis believes that further consolidation is likely with imagery and AI solutions. 
 
 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12885">
 In September 2022,
 </a>
 Taranis raised USD 40 million in Series D funding led by Inven Capital, to be used to accelerate progress for the company’s 3-year plan which it outlined in 2020. The plan looks at relocating its headquarters to Indiana, US from Israel, and expanding its operations.
 
</div>

Taranis

<div>
 
 Canada-based TELUS Agriculture offers integrated agriculture software solutions to boost profits for farmers, ranchers, agri-businesses, agri-food, consumer goods, and retail firms. Farm management software solutions provided by the company include the Farm at Hand crop management platform, TKXS for data management, the Agrian precision and informed decision-making tool, and Muddy Boots—a food traceability and supply chain management product. As of July 2021, TELUS operates across Canada, the USA, Mexico, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Slovakia, Armenia, Germany, China, and Australia.
 
 
 In July 2021, TELUS and Rabobank, a Dutch food and agriculture bank, acquired the farm planning software solution company Conservis to deliver a more robust platform covering a broader range of crops and livestock to a larger number of clients.
 
 
 Founded in 2009, Conservis via its web and mobile platform, provides farmers with planning tools, real-time data capture, and analytics to support better decision making and efficient reporting. Having launched as a permanent crop management platform for tree nuts, the platform has expanded its capabilities to fit crop types such as citrus and grapes. Since 2018, Rabo AgriFinance, a Rabobank subsidiary, has also been a development partner for Conservis to enhance the platform’s financial reporting capabilities. 
 
</div>

TELUS  Agriculture

<div>
 
 Arable was established with the aim of providing measurements, insight, and predictions that enable growers to address risks with crop management. The key market of focus has been the US, though the company&rsquo;s product has been used in 39 different countries.&nbsp;
 
 
 The company provides real-time data updates on irrigation and weather, such as reports on plants and crop management, to allow users to make informed decisions, while also being able to precisely measure different farming-related data such as temperature and humidity. Thus, the company falls under the categories of precision and smart farming.&nbsp;
 
 
 The company&rsquo;s product, Arable Mark, is an irrigation management tool whichsynthesizes climate, plant, and soil data to produce visualizations. Through a web dashboard and smartphone app, Arable Mark exposes precipitation, crop water deficit, soil moisture, chilling hours, and other metrics gathered from sensors. Customers using Arable&rsquo;s platform have reportedly shown to reduce irrigation by upto 50% and pesticide usage by 15%.&nbsp;In May 2023, the company commercially introduced 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18120">
 Arable Mark 3
 </a>
 which includes a 5 MP camera, an optional wind anemometer, and advanced plant and environmental sensing capabilities.
 
 
 The company&rsquo;s customer base is quite broad in the agriculture value chain, and includes farmers, advisors, insurers, processors, lenders, and governments that find Arable useful to gauge facts on the ground in real time, and in turn reduce risk and increase certainty with decision making.&nbsp;
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 As of July 2022, &nbsp;the company serves over 400 customers across 40 countries, and&nbsp; has partnered with agribusiness players like&nbsp;
 <a href="https://www.bayer.com/en/">
 Bayer
 </a>
 ,&nbsp;
 <a href="http://basf.com/">
 BASF
 </a>
 , and&nbsp;
 <a href="https://www.nutrien.com/">
 Nutrien
 </a>
 , as well as large consumer food companies such as&nbsp;
 <a href="https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjZmt7Vz8HsAhVB5bMKHZDRA-QYABAAGgJxbg&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESQOD2vDo-TeLvYzetoyv9iGSw4AnEyiwfscK9vNdjRJ0JPSZXAOBHMYcmrQDPGFTkEl8yzB3t5tB0WHRWzqyKtJE&sig=AOD64_30Xpx6__U8VgKUxkOFpPHuSo99bw&q&adurl&ved=2ahUKEwj--M3Vz8HsAhVCLKwKHa4MAgUQ0Qx6BAgUEAE">
 Mars
 </a>
 ,&nbsp;
 <a href="https://www.lambweston.com/">
 Lamb Weston
 </a>
 , and&nbsp;
 <a href="https://www.tweglobal.com/">
 Treasury Wine Estates
 </a>
 ,&nbsp;as well as fellow startups like&nbsp;
 <a href="https://www.planet.com/">
 Planet
 </a>
 ,&nbsp;
 <a href="https://www.terramera.com/">
 Terramera
 </a>
 , and&nbsp;
 <a href="https://www.pivotbio.com/">
 Pivot Bio
 </a>
 primarily to expand the reach of its platform.&nbsp;
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/11852">
 In July 2022
 </a>
 , Arable raised USD 40 million in Series C funding led by Galvanize Climate Solutions to support product development, delivery of new services, and international expansion.&nbsp;
 
 
 Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the company&rsquo;s sales grew by 4x during 2020 and 2022, while&nbsp; reporting a&nbsp; 300% sales growth in Q3 2020 alone.&nbsp; 
 
 
 
</div>

Arable

<div>
 
 The company&rsquo;s aerial spectral imagery helps growers optimize water and fertilizer application, focusing on the midstream of the agriculture value chain. The company uses low-flying planes to capture and process these aerial spectral images. The images provide accurate and real-time information on the water and nutrient status of every plant in the field. 
 &nbsp;The company initially focused on the US and Australia, and later 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/16918">
 expanded
 </a>
 its services to Portugal and Spain. 
 
 
 Its technology can be applied to vineyards, orchards, and row crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat. The company is more of a Data as a Service organisation where the grower will pay Ceres Imaging by the acre and receive imagery and necessary support to integrate the information with broader crop management practices. The company has partnered with established companies like John Deere and Climate FieldView, which find that Ceres Imaging&rsquo;s solutions (pest and disease detection weeks ahead of human detection) align with their products and services.&nbsp;In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15394">
 December 2022
 </a>
 , Ceres Imaging partnered with Lindsay Corporation, a provider of irrigation, infrastructure, and industrial technology solutions, to receive high-resolution images from Ceres Imaging's technology for Lindsay&rsquo;s FieldNET platform.
 
 
 In 2019, Ceres Imaging significantly expanded its operations with irrigated row crops throughout the central and western US.&nbsp;During the period, Ceres also nearly doubled its share of the&nbsp;California&nbsp;specialty crop market, going from managing 10% to 18% of all specialty crop acres in the state.&nbsp;
 
 
 In September 2021, the company raised USD 23 million in a Series C funding round led by XTX Ventures and REMUS Capital. The funds were to be directed toward advancing the company&rsquo;s product offering, developing the company&rsquo;s AI technology that will allow improved irrigation practices for growers, and expanding the company&rsquo;s geographical presence.
 
</div>

Ceres Imaging

<div>
 
 SWIIM (Sustainable Water and Innovative Irrigation Management) System, with the support of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and various US grant universities, operates multi-patented technology developed to manage agricultural water budgets, allowing farmers to efficiently allocate water. The company focuses on the midstream of the agricultural value chain, supporting farmers through their harvesting process. The company’s technology is being widely deployed across western US states.
 
 
 The company provides a device that integrates with existing water measurement tools such as water gauges and analyzes real-time water usage via telemetry, offering farmers information on exactly how much water is used for crops and how much goes back into the ground.
 
 
 The company’s system can be used for any crop and irrigation system, lending its product flexibility and scope for potential expansion beyond the US. 
 
 
 In 2018, SWIIM acquired farm management software OnFarm Systems, which operates a customizable dashboard presenting data collected from a range of different internet of things (IoT) sources (weather, pest control, crop models) on any online device. The acquisition provided SWIIM customers with a differentiated product. Moreover, OnFarm’s 500 clients across the United States, Europe, and Asia at the time were accessible to SWIIM.  
 
 
 In 2020, SWIIM issued its own certification to farmers for the sustainable use of water, conveying to consumers that produce was grown with sustainable water management practices. In addition, SWIIM also introduced its “Certified Water Balance Report”, providing growers with an audited account of their water use. The company’s niche focus on water management, alongside its efforts at differentiation via acquisitions, arms it with potential to broaden its reach.
 
 
 
</div>

SWIIM Systems

Start-ups providing smart machinery such as agricultural robots and autonomous tractors, as well as other smart hardware devices for crop and livestock management.

Operators of marketplaces connecting farmers, suppliers, buyers, experts and advisors to streamline the farming process.

Start-ups offering software and related hardware solutions for crop operation, crop modelling, weather forecasting, soil analysis, and overall irrigation management using sensors, big data, AI and machine learning.

Startups offering software and related hardware solutions that facilitate real time data tracking and sharing on animal weight, future weight forecasts, and animal health and behavioural analysis using RFID tags, sensors, big data, AI and machine learning.

Start-ups offering drone or satellite imagery to measure and monitor fields, spray pesticides, accurately present biological parameters, control the quality of sowing, etc.

Crop and livestock monitoring startups use AI for their analytics platform

Uses robots for harvesting, weeding, and related agricultural purposes

Uses data analytics and sensors and related technologies to provide crop and livestock monitoring insights

Provides solutions that maximizes efficiency throughout the agriculture value chain

IoT-enabled sensors are used in machinery and equipment to help with data collection

<div>
 
 Based in the UK, Agxio uses machine learning, AI, and data science to build a range of low-code cloud-based applications for uses in the fields of  agriculture, life sciences (including genetic research, and drug discovery) and biotechnology
 
 
 In the vertical farming space, Agxio focuses on controlled environment systems offering a control software called “Ceres” that provides real-time alerts to optimize indoor growing conditions by monitoring lighting, humidity, and temperature using IoT-enabled sensors. The company is also looking to offer its software solutions for specifically hydroponic-based vertical farms. The company charges a subscription fee for the use of its software (charges for Ceres are undisclosed).
 
 
 In May 2021, Agxio partnered with Digital Farming, a hydroponic-based vertical farming company in Wales, to deploy its Ceres software at the latter’s vertical farms in Mid Wales and Welsh Valleys.
 
 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9125">
 In March 2022,
 </a>
 Agxio raised GBP 2.1 million (~USD 2.74 million) in an oversubscribed pre-Series A funding round led by the Development Bank of Wales to support its scaling and international expansion plans.
 
</div>

Based in Germany, Agrilution produces and sells small container farms (known as Plantcubes) that can be placed inside kitchens. Its growing system is suitable to grow lettuce, microgreens, and herbs. The farm can be controlled via a mobile phone.

Agrilution

Based in Belgium, Urban Crop Solutions produces growing systems inside shipping containers (called PlantFactories). The company also builds custom farms inside buildings (e.g. warehouse, basement). The company's modular " PlantFactories " are deemed ideal for highly urbanized areas, since they take up little space and can be stacked. As of March 2020, it had 28 projects in operation with its main customers located across Europe and in the US.The company launched an e-shop in February 2023 to better support existing and new customers in the day-to-day and long-term operation of their indoor farming businesses. The e-shop offers from seeds and substrates to sensors and container parts.In April 2023, the company appointed <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17741">AlfaTech </a>, an engineering consulting firm, as the integration and service partner for UCS’s products in the Southeast Asian region.

Urban Crop Solutions

<div>
 
 Based in Massachusetts, Crop One Holdings operates hydroponics-based vertical farming that produces herbicide and pesticide-free leafy greens. As of December 2021, the company operates a facility in Millis, Massachusetts, and serves more than 30 stores in the US through its subsidiary—FreshBox Farms, producing greens such as spinach, kale, and romaine as well as a spicy mix, spring mix, and a power blend.   
 
 
 The company claims to have a longer commercial production history than any other vertical farmer in North America. It further claims that its proprietary technology and plant science help generate among the highest crop yields in the industry, up to 20%–60%, and at 25% to 50% of the capital cost of other vertical farming companies. It is also able to produce output that uses 99% less water compared to outdoor fields.
 
 
 The company states that scaling its production is the most challenging aspect and has now begun expanding its operations seven years after commencement. As part of their expansion plans, the company announced a Joint Venture with Emirates Flight Catering in June 2018, and 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/7493">
 in December 2021,
 </a>
 the two companies announced plans to build a 130,000 sq ft farm in Dubai, reportedly the largest vertical farming facility in the world. Crop One also plans to build a new facility every year for the next five years. The Dubai facility is expected to produce about 6,000 pounds of leafy greens per day, which will also serve Emirates’ customers, including 105 airlines and 25 lounges. In July 2022, the company announced the opening of its second farm, “Emirates Crop One” (ECO 1), a 330,000+ sq ft facility that is expected to produce up to 2 million pounds of leafy greens per year.  
 
 
 In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15395">
 December 2022
 </a>
 , Crop One and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory received a USD 1.5 million grant from the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) to develop aquatic plants of the Lemnaceae (Lemna) family to provide high-quality protein for human consumption.
 
</div>

Crop One Holdings

<div>
 
 Agricool, a French startup, operates vertical farms in containers using an aeroponic growing system. The company sells its leafy greens, herbs, and strawberries to grocery stores. It currently operates container farms (which it calls “cooltainers”) in Paris and Dubai. By 2021, it plans to operate around 100 farms. The light-emitting diode (LED) lighting used in its containers are powered by 100% renewable energy. The company claims that its locally grown strawberries contain 30% more vitamin C than supermarket strawberries. 
 
 
 
</div>

Agricool

Berlin-based Infarm is a startup that produces herbs and green leaves such as basil, pak choi, coriander, and thyme via a hydroponic vertical farming system. It also produces modular growing systems for grocery retailers, restaurants, schools, and shopping malls in a farming-as-a-service model that sets it apart from competitors. Infarm handles the installation, cultivation, harvesting, and maintenance of its modular farms.&nbsp;&nbsp;The company's cloud-based platform “Growing Centres” is designed to be scalable and can add more modules provided there are no space constraints. Each module can produce 500,000 plants per year using 430 sq ft of space. The farms are monitored and controlled by Infarm’s central control center. As of December 2021, Infarm revealed it was conducting R&amp;D to expand its portfolio with 40 new crops in 2022 including mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, peas, and strawberries, while increasing its presence to 100 growing centers across 20 countries by harvesting a variety of fruits and vegetables by 2030.&nbsp;<a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14648">In November 2022</a>, the company announced that it has successfully grown wheat at its indoor farms without the use of soil, chemicals and pesticides, projecting yields of up to 11.7 kg per square meter per year based on initial results.Infarm strengthened its US presence in February 2022, with plans to open a new <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/8415">73,000 sq ft vertical farm</a> in Kyle, Texas with a capacity to produce 2.2 million pounds of salad per year. In June 2022, Infarm said that it would be building a 200,000 sq ft Growing Center in Maryland, its third and reportedly largest farm in its network. In Europe, the company began constructing a 10,000 sq meter (~107,000+ sq ft) vertical farming facility in Bedford in August 2021, which may be one of the largest vertical farming facilities in Europe, with the ability to produce up to 18 million plants per year at full capacity (equivalent to 360,000 sqm of farmland). The facility was opened in June 2022. Infarm also revealed plans to open its first growing center in Qatar in 2023, with a focus on fruits such as strawberries, alongside leafy greens, herbs, and salads (December 2021).In October 2023, Infarm’s <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/22462">UK branch</a> entered administration under the laws of England and Wales and the Insolvency Rules following the bankruptcy of its <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/22225">Dutch</a> branch in September 2023. Previously in April 2023, the company <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17740">closed its facilities</a> in Frankfurt and Copenhagen due to escalating energy prices, inflation, supply chain disruptions, rising material costs, and tough financial markets.Key customers and partnershipsInfarm expanded in Canada, via its partnership with Sobeys (Canada’s second-largest food retailer), to construct four production facilities in Calgary, Halifax, Winnipeg, and Hamilton by 2023, to supply to over 1,000 Canadian grocery stores (July 2021). It aims to operate a capacity of 3 million sq ft in Canada by 2025. The company also has partnered with the virtual supermarket <a href="https://sp-edge.com/sectors/sustainability/updates/6154">Rohlik.cz </a>to offer its greens in the Czech Republic, marking its foray into the Eastern European market. Infarm also partnered with Swedish multinational ready-to-assemble furniture company IKEA <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/11069">in June 2022 </a>to supply modular vertical farming solutions to grow herbs at three IKEA stores. Infarm expanded its presence to the Netherlands, where it announced an exclusive supply partnership with online retailer Crisp ( <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/7874">January 2022 </a>). As of February 2022, the company had partnered with over 30 retailers across North America, Europe, the UK, and Japan including Kroger, Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh, and <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/8769">Coop Danmark </a>, supplying its fresh produce to over 2,850 stores. It also plans to enter new markets in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.Funding and financialsIn June 2021, it was reported that it was in talks with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/sectors/sustainability/updates/1022">Kernal Group </a>to go public via the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) route. The possible transaction was likely to value the combined company at over USD 1 billion.Infarm raised USD 200 million in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/sectors/sustainability/updates/7389">Series D funding </a>in December 2021. The round has brought the company’s total funding to around USD 605 million at a valuation of more than USD 1 billion. The fresh funds were to be used for Infarm’s global growth strategy.

Infarm

A soilless growing method that combines aquaculture with hydroponics. A crop's roots are placed directly in containers of nutrient-enriched water connected to fish farming tanks, allowing crops to absorb a continuous supply of nutrients from the waste produced by the fish.

A soilless growing method that places crops' roots directly in containers filled with nutrient-enriched water.

A soilless growing method that suspends crops in the air with a sprinkler or misting system used to spray the exposed roots with a nutrient-rich solution.

Startups that produce and sell modular growing systems that can be placed within containers (e.g. small containers, shipping containers) and buildings or rooms. The containers can be located in a variety of places, such as retail stores, parking lots, and kitchens.

Urban indoor farming maximizes land use by providing controlled environments for efficient crop production

Certain vertical farming systems use IoT and related sensor technologies

Techniques enable better land use management

Agxio

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