Agtech startup says precision pollination service boosts pistachio crop
Israeli agtech startup Edete Precision Technologies for Agriculture says it achieved a 19% average increase in pistachio crop in California during 2023, in orchards using new precision pollination technology.
Edete deployed its precision pollination services on 500 acres of pistachios in Bakersfield, Calif., according to a news release. The company said its trial pollination occurred during April 2022 and April 2023 on three young plots of the Golden Hills variety planted in 2016 and 2017 and yet to reach commercial production.
Edete said it used its proprietary 2Be mechanical pollinator, designed to precisely disperse pure pollen in controlled and highly accurate quantities on trees. The 2Be has a daily capacity of 150 acres and augmented natural pistachio pollination in challenging weather conditions that may be unfavorable for bee activity.
Edete reported a 19% average increase in crop yield in two out of three plots pollinated, calling it a noteworthy achievement considering the high accumulation of chill hours in 2023.
The company said the financial impact of this technology is an additional contribution of $1,000 to $1,300 per acre at a 19% increase in crop size, based on a predicted average crop of 3,000 to 3,800 pounds per acre at an average price of $1.80 per pound in 2023.
In 2021, the 2Be technology helped growers achieve an average yield growth of 24% in an 82-acre area in the northern Sacramento region of plots of varying ages from 6 years to 24 years, according to the release.
“The increase in yield for the third consecutive year in 2023 underscores the effectiveness of precision pollination in overcoming natural pollination deficiencies,” Eylam Ran, CEO of Edete, said in the release. “This not only ensures optimal yields, even in record crop years, but also contributes to agricultural resilience and food security for consumers. I am delighted to see early adopters of Edete’s PPaS continuing to engage with our services in 2024, emphasizing the lasting impact on profitability for farmers.”
