The start-up agRE.tech is developing advanced robotics technology and artificial intelligence for use in agriculture and climate management. This approach addresses manpower challenges in agriculture, increases productivity, and supports the global goals of large-scale green energy production within the same agricultural areas.
This fundraising round saw notable contributions from key players in the economy, including Zemach Mifalim (Zemach Regional Industries) and EDF. Zemach Mifalim, a co-initiator of agRE.tech, leads the way through the "Kinneret Innovation Center," specializing in climate and agriculture. EDF, the French Energy giant, brings its international expertise in energy to the project, furthering the vision of leveraging agricultural spaces for green energy production.
Over the past year, agRE.tech has been dedicated to developing an advanced robotic operating system tailored for agrivoltaic areas. This system, integrated into existing photovoltaic infrastructure, utilizes artificial intelligence to execute complex agricultural tasks autonomously, such as selective spraying, pruning, and harvesting. Additionally, it oversees the control and maintenance operations of the solar fields.
CEO and co-founder Elad Levy brings a wealth of experience in robotics, having previously served as Founder & CEO of Roboteam, a company with thousands of robotic systems deployed worldwide. Elad leads the team alongside Yaniv Marmur, a seasoned expert in multidisciplinary systems engineering, serving as CTO. The company has filed several patents in the field and has already established a development field above a vineyard where its robotic operating system is operational.
Through its open solution operating system, agRE.os, agRE.tech has fostered collaborations with ag-tech and Clima-tech companies, integrating various technological solutions into the development area.
The Agrivoltaics market, which combines solar energy production with agriculture, presents a $4 billion opportunity. agRE.tech is poised to accelerate and expand this market to tens of billions of dollars with its groundbreaking technology.
agRE.tech is currently in the advanced stages of establishing the first commercial fields with integrated robotic capabilities in both local and international markets, including Italy, where a significant budget of 1.7 billion euros has been allocated for grovoltaic projects.
Elad Levy, CEO of agRE.tech, shares, "After over a decade in defense and civil robotics, we identified climate and agriculture as burgeoning fields where we can contribute to global efforts addressing the climate crisis and food security. The convergence of these sectors presents immense potential for technological and business innovation. It's a great honor for us to have esteemed companies like EDF and Zemach partnering with us to spearhead the robotic agrivoltaic sector and pave the way for a sustainable future for all"
Nadav Leshem, Director of the Renewable Energy Sector at EDF Israel, states, "The renewable energy sector presents a multifaceted challenge that demands a comprehensive approach encompassing all resources, needs, and products across various stakeholders. At EDF Israel Renewables, we focus on three key pillars: research and development, fostering innovation, and forging strategic partnerships throughout the value chain. We are delighted and proud to be part of agRE.tech's and 'Zemach" journey. We believe in their team and solution, which we see as a catalyst for the rapid implementation of advanced agrivoltaic projects in the near future."
Menashe Shalom, CEO of Zemach Mifalim, stated: " Zemach Mifalim aims to lead innovation in agricultural and environmental technology. To this end, we have fostered cooperation with EDF and invested in agRE.tech, blending the corporation's extensive agricultural knowledge and global business connections with the advanced capabilities of Zemach Technologies. Zemach is proud to be at the forefront of this groundbreaking field, which promises significant advancements in renewable agriculture and green energy production."
EDF, with an installed capacity of approximately 137GW and an installed solar capacity of over 3,000MW, is a frontrunner in renewable and solar energy. The company invests heavily in international research and development in the agrivoltaic field, anticipating significant growth in the coming years.
For more information:
agRE.tech
Jordan Valley, Israel
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agre.tech