Israeli startup Fermata has raised $10 million in Series A funding to further develop its innovative crop monitoring solution, which leverages computer vision and AI to detect diseases and pests in greenhouse-grown crops. The funding round, led by European venture capital firm Raw Ventures, will enable Fermata to scale its operations and expand its partnerships with major agriculture enterprises.

Fermata's story began when founder Valeria Kogan, a Ph.D. student in bioinformatics, was approached by a tomato grower seeking to apply AI to agriculture. Kogan, who initially thought her career would be confined to mathematics, medicine, or biology, was intrigued by the opportunity and soon realized that her bioinformatic background was highly transferable to the agricultural sector. She launched Fermata in 2020, with a mission to monitor and diagnose greenhouse crops using AI-powered computer vision.

Fermata's software works in conjunction with any off-the-shelf camera, taking pictures of greenhouse crops twice a day. The company's in-house AI model analyzes the images and sends alerts to farmers through an app, enabling them to take prompt action against infestations or diseases. Kogan attributes Fermata's success to its genuine curiosity-driven approach, which involved understanding the needs of greenhouse farms rather than pushing unwanted technology.

Another key factor contributing to Fermata's traction is its approach to training its AI model. The company has maintained an in-house data labeling team since its inception, which Kogan believes has significantly improved the model's accuracy. Fermata initially used publicly available data but now trains its models on customer data, with a research and development center where plants are intentionally infected with various diseases to generate valuable data.

When Fermata launched, Kogan thought partnering with companies already selling to farms would be the way forward. However, this approach didn't yield many responses in 2020. The tide changed in 2022, as AI gained momentum, and Fermata began working directly with farms and partnering with major agriculture enterprises like Bayer and Syngenta. The company has deployed over 100 cameras and is now focused on expanding its sales team to drive further growth.

The $10 million Series A funding will be used to help Fermata reach its goal of becoming profitable by 2026. Kogan expressed her satisfaction with the funding round, stating that they didn't need to dilute the cap table with more investors. Fermata currently focuses on greenhouse-grown tomatoes but is actively working to expand into new crops and strengthen its partnerships.

The agricultural technology sector has witnessed significant growth in recent years, driven by the need for sustainable and efficient farming practices. Fermata's innovative solution has the potential to revolutionize the greenhouse farming industry, and this funding round marks a significant milestone in the company's journey towards achieving its vision.

As the agriculture industry continues to evolve, Fermata's AI-powered crop monitoring solution is poised to play a critical role in shaping the future of farming. With its unique approach and commitment to innovation, Fermata is well-positioned to make a lasting impact on the industry and contribute to a more sustainable food system.