UCD AgTech Spin-out Proveye awarded funding from the European Space Agency
Posted 14 September, 2022
(opens in a new window)A UCD AgTech spin-out pioneering the use of digital image data for agriculture and environment protection has been awarded €225,000 from the (opens in a new window)European Space Agency (ESA).
Securing the funding through the ARTES 4.0 Downstream Applications Demonstration Fund, (opens in a new window)Proveye will use it to support the commercialisation of its grassland management platform, which it hopes to bring to market in 2023.
The company’s grass management platform integrates satellite and UAV imagery, using AI methods, to map grass yield and grass quality. This realtime information on yield is critical for managing grazing, grass forage, fertilisation and grass husbandry.
Based at NovaUCD, the company, which previously completed the ESA Business Incubation Centre (BIC) Ireland programmme, is aiming to validating its platform in Ireland, Europe and New Zealand by engaging with pioneering customers through pilot field trials.
“Through our platform, agri-advisors and input-providers will for the first time be able to provide the farmer with a complete near-100% accurate picture of their grasslands in near real-time,” said Jerome O’Connell, CEO and co-founder, Proveye.
“This will enable a farmer to see 100% of the farm area down to plant-by-plant detail, which will be a game changer in terms of productivity and sustainability of grass-based agriculture.”
(opens in a new window)Professor Nick Holden, UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, Proveye co-founder, added: “Our technology has the potential to revolutionise grass management not only for the dairy and beef sectors, but also for industries like renewable energy production and grass-based biorefining.”
Earlier this year Proveye was named the Ornua Most Innovative AgTech Start-up of 2022 following the completion of the AgTechUCD Innovation Centre’s inaugural Agccelerator programme.
By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations (with materials from Micéal Whelan, UCD Research and Innovation)
