We congratulate Aggrator alumnus SAGA Robotics on their great profile in E24 and another breakthrough!

Aggrator
02/04/2024

The article in E24 Introducing once again Thorvald, an innovative Norwegian AI-driven robot developed by Saga Robotics, which aims to transform agriculture and in this case the American wine industry by combating mold in vineyards using UV light. This approach, rooted in technology historically used for bacterial control in medical equipment, represents a sustainable alternative to traditional chemical pesticides. Discovered through research at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), this technique involves the nighttime application of UV light to prevent plant damage, enabling a significant reduction in chemical use, with existing customers seeing a 70 to 90 percent decrease in their usage.

Saga Robotics, established in 2016 by former NMBU professor Pål Johan From, has grown very rapidly and is now valued at 400 million NOK. The company’s focus on high-value crops such as strawberries and grapes addresses critical challenges in the sector, including disease control and dependence on pesticides. Thorvald operates autonomously and offers environmental advantages over diesel-powered methods for pesticide application, such as reducing water usage and minimizing labor costs. Its electric operation and data collection capabilities further contribute to optimizing crop yields and reducing environmental impact.

To date, Saga Robotics has produced over 100 robots, significantly impacting the UK’s strawberry fields and initiating operations in California’s vast wine regions. Their business model, offering the technology as a service, has proven economically viable for both the company and the farmers, presenting a cost-effective alternative to chemical treatments. Thorvalds’ success signals a transition to more sustainable and efficient agricultural practices, highlighting the potential of technological innovation to revolutionize food production and sustainability in agriculture.

Congratulations Saga Robotics!

Photo: E24, Jason Henry

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