Defense Contractor Tesseract Transforms Military Drones for Agriculture Use in U.S. Farms
Tesseract Innovates U.S. Agriculture with Military Drone Technology
Robotics and defense firm Tesseract Ventures is transforming military drone technology for agricultural use in the United States. Their new Tesseract Ag Drone utilizes advanced computer vision capabilities to provide farmers with real-time data about their fields. This drone works in conjunction with the company’s synthesis software, designed to analyze raw data and deliver actionable insights.
Based in Kansas, Tesseract enters the agricultural drone market at a time when there are discussions in the U.S. regarding a ban on China-based DJI, the leading global unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturer. Recently, Tesseract partnered with the Landus Farm Cooperative in Iowa to initiate a soft launch of this technology, rooted in a project initially developed under a Department of Defense program.
“Tesseract Ventures is not just introducing a new American-made drone; we are paving the way for a revolutionary era in precision agriculture,” stated Tesseract CEO John Boucard. “Our agricultural innovations are driven by military expertise and focused on empowering farmers with enhanced capabilities and strategic advantages.”
— Sarah Zimmerman
AI Startup Farmblox Secures $2.5M for Vineyard Sensor Technology
Farm Automation startup Farmblox has successfully raised $2.5 million to expand its in-field sensors to the vineyard and orchard markets. The Massachusetts-based company employs machine-learning sensor technology to enable farmers to monitor their operations without manual inspections, quickly identifying issues such as irrigation leaks, weather risks, and equipment failures.
The platform has the potential to cut labor expenses by up to 50% and decrease water usage, according to co-founder and CEO Nathan Rosenberg. Farmblox’s system has been rolled out to track irrigation in vineyards and monitor carbon sequestration on farms.
Currently, Farmblox serves 55 farm clients across more than 14,000 acres in North America. The funding round was led by Hyperplane, with additional support from Slow Ventures, MHS Capital, and Service Provider Capital.
“This new funding will help us move closer to realizing our goal of a practical, digital platform for farmers to reduce labor and implement the latest sustainable practices efficiently,” Rosenberg noted.
Farmblox has already implemented its technology in high-margin sectors like maple syrup production, vineyards, and orchards, ensuring their sensors can remain active post-harvest. Rosenberg expressed aspirations to extend their solutions to lower-margin crops in the future.
— Nathan Owens
Tyson Foods Partners with Five Supply Chain Startups
Tyson Foods, the major player in the meat industry, has chosen five startups to explore potential partnerships and high-impact opportunities. The selection follows Tyson’s Demo Day, during which early-stage companies from various regions, including the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., presented their supply chain solutions.
The selected startups—Acoustic Extra Freezing (Paradigm Labs), JLE Truckwash, Orderful, Pactum AI, and SnoFox—are developing innovative solutions aimed at enhancing supply chain efficiency, tackling challenges such as industrial refrigeration, fleet cleaning, data exchange, and supplier negotiations.
“Transformational solutions arise from a variety of sources, and witnessing so much strategic potential in one session was truly inspiring,” said Heidi Solomon, Tyson’s vice president of global strategy. “The global scale and reach of Tyson Foods can help these innovative companies implement their solutions to create significant changes.”
— Sarah Zimmerman
Maria Sanchez completed her Bachelor’s degree in Plant Sciences from the University of California, Davis, in the USA. Her studies focused on plant genetics and biotechnology, with an emphasis on developing disease-resistant crop varieties. Maria has contributed to several research projects aimed at improving crop resilience to climate change and is now pursuing her Master’s degree in Plant Breeding.