Agurotech, an agritech startup from Amsterdam, secured a boost of €1.5 million to fuel a more sustainable future of farming and food supply. The startup now plans to scale and expand.
The global food supply is undergoing a moment of transition. Hit with the challenge of feeding a growing population amidst an escalating climate crisis and geopolitical tensions, the entire food supply chain needs to adapt – and it begins with farming practices. The farming industry is critical to human society and currently, farmers are under immense pressure.
Agurotech aims to help farmers optimize processes and become more resource-efficient – taking the pressure off their shoulders and also making the industry more sustainable. The innovative startup, with a female-leadership team, has just secured €1.5 million from Navus Ventures and ROM InWest to scale.
Founded in 2020 and led by Joelle van den Brand and Lilia Planjyan, Agurotech provides data and insights to farmers to help them use resources, such as water, more efficiently. The Dutch startup develops, produces, and delivers proprietary hardware and software solutions, such as sensor technology, weather stations, and applications. The software gives farmers real-time insights into soil conditions, local weather, and AI-powered predictions.
Joelle van den Brand explained: “We have demonstrated that we can increase crop yield by using resources more effectively. This also has a positive impact on sustainability. Not only in the Netherlands or Europe, but all over the world. Thanks to this investment, we can further scale and expand our company. We expect to grow over the next 5 years and achieve international market leadership in key segments.”
In 2023, the young company plans to scale up its production. Its tech will also be used in the largest sensor-driven farming project ever undertaken: “LIFE – The Future of Farming,” supported by the European Union. In this project, agricultural organizations, 300 farmers, universities, scientists, and local governments in the six EU countries that are most affected by the effects of climate change will work together to find scalable, sustainable solutions.
Lilia Planjyan: “The goal is to make the agricultural sector more sustainable and prepare for the effects of climate change through precision farming technology.”
Currently focused in the Netherlands, the team also plans to expand into different international markets.
Eduard Meijer, Navus Ventures: “Joelle and Lilia have developed robust technology that helps farmers collect and interpret data to address practical and increasingly urgent problems such as optimal irrigation. This investment perfectly fits Navus’ background and approach focused on technology for the transition to sustainable food and energy, and we look forward to supporting Agurotech in the upcoming growth phase.”
Janet Nieboer, ROM InWest: “A sustainable food system is one of the most important challenges of our time. Thanks to the smart use of data in combination with advanced hardware, Agurotech provides an important boost to improving agriculture, sustainability, and the living environment. We are therefore pleased to be able to contribute to this effective approach with global potential.”
