Investment in real-time fungal detection
Source: VFD.com
BioScout already operates the world's largest fungal detection network in agriculture, with more than 250 sensors active across five continents. To combat these diseases, growers and farmers worldwide spend around $25 billion annually on crop protection products.
BioScout aims to change that with SporeScout, a real-time sensor platform that monitors more than 40 airborne threats, ranging from fungal spores to pollen and other particles. "This allows us to stay in control of the crop and drastically reduce our use of crop protection products." Lewis Collins, CEO and founder of BioScout, said the company grew out of a single idea during his PhD research: that most threats to a crop travel invisibly through the air, and that if growers could see them, they could also anticipate them.
Next steps The Seed-B funding round will allow BioScout to significantly expand its current sensor network, which is active with 60 customers worldwide, over the coming years, and to further invest in the underlying data and AI technology. and Canadian markets "South Africa's agricultural future depends on young people who understand both the science and the business of farming" Decoding plant biology to modernize agriculture Related Articles CN Seeds announces new Technical Sales and Account Manager Investment in real-time fungal detection GoodLeaf Farms achieves profitability across all vertical farming operations Village Fresh announces new Chief Revenue Officer A lack of clarity surrounding BFG Supply Related Articles 80 Acres Farms is winding down operations Fresh Origins unveils Classics collection and new mix CE Water Solutions introduces new water analyzer for the U.S.
Why this matters: For operators, this is a water-management story. The useful signal is that direct substrate measurements can help cut drain loss materially without giving up yield or fruit quality, which is exactly the kind of controllable efficiency gain a facility can build on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does substrate sensing matter in free-drain strawberry systems?
Because drain percentage tells a grower what already happened, while substrate moisture and EC data show root-zone conditions directly. That makes it easier to cut water loss without guessing.
What is the operator takeaway from this trial?
If the thresholds are understood well enough, growers can reduce drain water materially while protecting yield and fruit quality, which makes sensing an operational tool instead of a reporting tool.
