Arable Labs is talking to partners to test its Pulsepod IoT farm sensor system around the world and taking pre-orders for late-summer shipment. The solar-powered agtech system measures over 40 observation streams; an accessory port accommodates soil moisture, irrigation pressure, and other user-supplied devices, and an onboard GPS allows data to be linked to weather, soil, and satellite imagery. The agtech sub-sector attracted 94% more funding in 2015 than a year earlier, driven in part by increasing global concerns over falling crop yields and the impacts of climate change. In addition to being used as sensors on farms, these systems are also increasingly becoming tools that can help farmers manage their water resources.
Arable Labs is talking to partners to test its Pulsepod IoT farm sensor system around the world and taking pre-orders for late-summer shipment. The solar-powered agtech system measures over 40 observation streams; an accessory port accommodates soil moisture, irrigation pressure, and other user-supplied devices, and an onboard GPS allows data to be linked to weather, soil, and satellite imagery. The agtech sub-sector attracted 94% more funding in 2015 than a year earlier, driven in part by increasing global concerns over falling crop yields and the impacts of climate change. Currently accounting for around 10% of world GDP at $7.8tn; by 2050, the agriculture market is predicted to be worth $20tn.