Since 1793 the Old Farmer’s Almanac is probably best known for it’s sunrise tables and planting charts. For many farmers, the Almanac has been providing useful information, and also removing some uncertainty, for a business where success can be forged or shattered by the whims of Mother Nature.
While some farmers today still swear by the results of working with information that’s rooted in predictions about astronomical events, such as the rising of the sun, time, tides and weather, Vancouver-based Semios knows the weather is unpredictable and is focusing on helping farmers increase their crop value by redefining the science and business of crop management.
Semios is innovating agricultural technology by combining precision agriculture, biological pest control and data management. Michael Gilbert, founder and CEO of Semios, is taking his 20-years of biotech experience and decided to make pests lives miserable. For every miserable pest, there’s a happy farmer with a happier crop.
It’s commonly known that farming currently has serious economic challenges, coupled with an aging community, have put the industry in jeopardy of maintaining a healthy and dependable food supply chain. Semios is becoming an industry leader in developing machine-to-machine (M2M) agricultural technology. Considering food claims the pinnacle of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, new technologies like what Semios is bringing to the table is a potential game changer.
Their technology is enabling growers of high-value crops to monitor for insect pests, plant diseases and micro-climates. Data is transferred through a wireless mesh network, via the Semios dashboard, and often right into the hands of the farmer via a smartphone or tablet. Once the information is relayed, the farmer can quickly determine where and when to take appropriate action to protect and increase their crop value. The Semios system integrates on-orchard weather stations, camera-enabled traps that deliver daily pest activity, along with remote-controlled aerosol pheromone dispensers for mating disruption. This system offers farmers a near real-time decision making platform – which could essentially save them a season of revenue.
Source: http://www.betakit.com/semios-big-data-and-digitizing-the-farm/
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