CASE STUDIES

Using off-patent technology that had never been fully developed, AgSensor is completing productization of a yield sensor device for a crop type that has been significantly underserved (Confidentiality agreements prevent naming the crop type or other specifics). This project has included redesigning the sensor enclosure, a thorough upgrade of the communications protocols, and ground-up development of a user interface and mobile application. This was all done for use in a third-world country in less than four months. The project is at the end of beta testing and began manufacturing in 2023. The next phase of development will include building a sensor system capable of weighing and tracking individual basket loads of the crop from multiple harvesters from the field to the gin.

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AgSensor is working with the inventor of a pest detection and deterrence device where it has taken an early prototype and provided both hardware and software engineering services to produce a robust system capable of recognizing and taking deterrent action against specific pests in residential, recreational, commercial, and agricultural settings. Additionally, the team worked through intellectual property ownership and transfer elements to form a new, jointly-owned entity with the client. This was accomplished within a short timeframe, on a limited budget, and to the highest standards of safety and reliability. The next phase of development will include incorporating additional deterrent methods which have previously been barriers to entry for other companies. In addition, AgSensor is providing market development, strategic partnership sourcing, and access services to this client.

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A European-based technology provider invented a proprietary low-frequency electromagnetic field device for high-flow rate center pivots which improves water salinity, infiltration, and retention by physically altering properties of the water molecules. Members of the AgSensor team sourced and managed tech-forward trial partners and farmers along with providing field development support and trial management throughout the 2021 season across three states and two different crop types. The trial was successfully managed through harvest to the satisfaction of both growers and the client. All three trial locations agreed to continue using the technology for the 2022 growing season.

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In June 2023, members of the AgSensor Solutions team led a day-long strategic planning session with the leadership for a novel seed planting technology company. The session focused on a review of competitive, complementary, and adjacent planter and accessory technologies, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for our client to engage and partner. Our team also reviewed multiple strategic pathways forward, identifying barriers, critical success factors and metrics of success for each. The entire session was designed specifically for this client, organized, and executed in less than three weeks and to the high satisfaction of the client.  Based on these efforts, the client plans to further engage AgSensor to design and incorporate sensor technology into their planter units.

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From January to June 2023, members of the AgSensor team worked with the leadership of a poultry monitoring and production analytics startup to support a multimillion-dollar convertible note capital raise. The client’s technology delivers expert-level animal health and operational eyes and ears for production facilities through camera, microphone and other IoT sensors. Over the course of the six-month engagement, AgSensor sourced, vetted, and introduced the client’s product and offering to more than 100 qualified angel investors, venture capital groups, and family offices. In March 2023, through our direct efforts and relationships, the client was accepted into Silicon Valley VC Plug and Play’s seventh accelerator as part of the Agtech Program. The program aims to bring global innovation by facilitating opportunities for business development, capital investment, and pilots between startups and partners of the program, including Bremer Bank and American National.

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Advances in smart polymer technology have resulted in sensors that can be trained to detect specific ions of interest for the agronomy, water quality, and food processing industries. Our client acquired smart polymer sensor technology that was developed at a state university with the aim of developing solutions for multiple industries. Our team developed the system architecture, custom electronics, software, and industrial design for a standard product and then transitioned it into manufacturing. The client benefited by allowing us to manage the multiple technical disciplines required for the product design which freed up their team to work at their best use - refining the technology and recruiting customers.

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A PNW-based $300M Food/Ag Private Equity fund was seeking to make a growth investment into an international avocado oil company. Members of the AgSensor Solutions team delivered a comprehensive market research report, including a detailed study of the avocado oil market size and potential, input supply chain, oil production process, competitive landscape, and secondary byproducts. As a third-party organization, we protected the anonymity of the client while gathering valuable market insight and competitive analysis.

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A $100M Brazilian Private Equity firm was seeking to consolidate new and differentiated agricultural biological technologies and products from the US for commercialization in Brazil. Our team and partners evaluated nearly 50 agricultural technology companies from across the US, selecting 15 biostimulant, biopesticide, and bionutrition product development and go-to-market companies as possible acquisition candidates. We interviewed C-level executives, industry experts, and sales reps to build company profiles encompassing revenue, commercialized products, employee footprint, and pipeline opportunities.

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One of the largest fertilizer manufacturers in the Middle East recently spun-off an agtech development and venture arm with the strategy of acquiring agtech software companies providing solutions for increased traceability within the supply chain. We delivered a product which provided an insider-overview of the US supply chain (wheat as a proxy) as well as an analysis of the challenges experienced by key stakeholders along the chain and the identification of innovative technological solutions to critical problem sets. Our deliverables helped shape the strategic direction of their venture firm.

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A multi-national crop protection company wanted to assess market opportunities for fruits and vegetables in the southeast United States and Mexico. Our team delivered an overview of crops grown in both those geographies and narrowed potential options to five in each region. From there, we developed a historical model of hectares planted and harvested, production (volume and $), and yield trends. Additional analysis included business environment and regulatory issues, current grower and distribution practices, and emerging/intractable pathogen issues. The final report also included a comprehensive review of competitive offerings, including pricing and usage data.

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A member of our firm was chosen as the lead consultant for an Australian-based animal health company, successfully leading a $5M capital raise. Capital sources ranged from high-net-worth individuals, venture, and institutions, showcasing the breadth and depth of our investor network. The client was a leader in proprietary delivery platforms for livestock to help increase global protein production.

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A longstanding manufacturer of quality control instruments for the food processing industry engaged members of AgSensor Solutions to reinvent its flagship product to incorporate a new set of features and take advantage of technology improvements. This was a critical step for the manufacturer since there was a large base of installed equipment which was important to maintain the familiar look and feel of the existing instrument while also providing new features. We successfully completed the redesign, performed full qualification, and transitioned the design into manufacturing. Our efforts helped the manufacturer to not only maintain the existing customer base but also to gain market share by offering a truly innovative product refresh.

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A $20bn global chemical and seed treatment company partnered with members of the AgSensor Solutions team to help them better understand the Latin American market. Our market research product focused on four key areas within corn and soybean: biology, seed-applied technology, and the seed and seed treatment business in Brazil. In addition to providing a market estimation and competitive analysis for each of the product segments within these sub-sectors, our team evaluated the industrial applications (upstream and at the seed company processing plant) for crop types in Brazil and their respective market shares as well as the major application equipment throughout these processes.

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A South American (SA) crop input developer was looking to enter the US market for starter fertilizer alternatives. Our team analyzed and critiqued existing SA trial data. This included validation of trials and assessment of applicability to US crops, soils, and weather conditions. From that, we developed consolidated performance messaging. The final report provided a detailed overview of the overall US market with profiles of specific competitors and their offering. Finally, we assessed and made recommendations regarding potential channel and distribution partners.

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A nationally-recognized, nonprofit agricultural research organization was seeking strategic guidance around whether demand was sufficient to support an expansion of their service offerings into new areas. Our team delivered a comprehensive study of market size/demand estimation and profiles of leading Contract Research Providers for selected services: analytical chemistry, forage analysis, field trial research, genomic analysis, plant transformation services, and cellular imaging. The product directly influenced the client’s expansion efforts and infrastructure developments.

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Members of AgSensor Solutions successfully licensed an animal health technology to a multi-billion-dollar animal health company. The technology went through multiple field tests and manufacturing trials. Our team handled the entire process from licensing and securing manufacturing to post licensing support and finally secondary licensing to a strategic partner who continues to sell the product to date.

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As agtech becomes more prevalent at the farm-level, especially in higher value crops, new companies will continue to emerge with rapidly developed, off-the-shelf solutions. Our client was working with a large chlorophyll detection technology provider in the vineyard space and had developed an early version prototype to provide value-added insights. After developing a complete list of system requirements in collaboration with the client, our team designed more efficient, robust, scalable, and cost-optimized system architecture to ingest data from multiple sensors in real-time to a common platform. In addition to the system architecture, the team delivered a priced bill of materials and componentry selection document. The client is now deploying several of the recommendations with live beta testing clients in the field.