Aker gets funding for autonomous crop-scouting platform

Aker Technologies announced it has secured an investment of $ 2.6 million in new equity financing. The funding will be used to advance its TrueCause technology, an autonomous crop-scouting platform.

TrueCause and the Aker Pest Network aim to provide growers, suppliers, and ag retailers with under-the-canopy disease and pest crop diagnostics to measure the effectiveness of inputs and drive efficient in-season crop management practices.

The financing was led by Lewis & Clark Ventures, with co-investors Flyover Capital and Central Illinois Angels.

Accelerate evidence-based field monitoring practices

“We are delighted to welcome investors who recognise the innovation gap in an increasingly variable climate environment and the potential of our technology across the industry,” said Orlando Saez, Co-Founder & CEO of Aker Technologies. “Our team is excited to have a close relationship with the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center to accelerate evidence-based field monitoring practices, along with new input and trait development.”

According to the company, efficient management of inputs and water to boost crop yield on existing acreage is the foremost challenge in sustainable production agriculture.

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Aker advances crop diagnostics with technology that automates the process of crop scouting by detecting disease, pests, crop damage and other environmental stresses under the crop canopy, at scale. – Photo: Aker Technologies

Practical tools for growers

Aker Technologies was founded in 2016 with a vision to enable practical tools for growers to improve input cost and efficiency. Aker operates a U.S. nationwide crop diagnostic and logistics infrastructure supporting ag retailers and suppliers with validation of crop protection inputs, seed development, and better recommendations with higher ROI for threats impacting yield.

Scouting under the canopy

Aker advances crop diagnostics with technology that automates the process of crop scouting by detecting disease, pests, crop damage and other environmental stresses under the crop canopy, at scale. Aker offers county and local, pest and pathogen alert data and map services through subscription and in-field crop scouting services on demand.