Palo Alto, Calif.-based innovation accelerator NEC X says it has made a new investment in Verdi Expeditions Inc.
Verdi is a scalable platform for farm automation and personalized plant health care, according to a news release.
Along with its investment, NEC X says it will collaborate with Verdi to enhance its technology and geographic reach while augmenting NEC’s CropScope initiative. This complementary joint effort will enrich farm irrigation practices in Portugal with Kagome Co. Ltd., while at the same time CropScope will empower Verdi’s farm automation capabilities and expand support for agricultural production, according to the release.
“With increasingly severe weather and resource scarcity globally, it’s clear that we need new, innovative agricultural infrastructure that is both efficient and sustainable,” NEC X President and CEO Shintaro Matsumoto said in the release. “NEC X is committed to addressing this urgent issue through our strategic investment in Verdi, whose innovative solutions are set to transform farming practices. We’re confident Verdi will make a lasting impact, as part of Elev X! Boost and the CropScope initiative.”
Founded in 2020 by Canadian entrepreneurs Arthur Chen and Roman Kozak, Verdi is building modern automation tools for agriculture and solving the scaling challenges that have traditionally prevented the widespread adoption of farm automation, the release said. Verdi’s intelligent devices seek to transform existing farm infrastructure (such as irrigation equipment) into smart systems capable of artificial-intelligence-powered automation, enabling farmers to boost crop and workforce productivity while significantly reducing technology adoption costs.
“Our strategic partnership, collaboration and integration with NEC X is invaluable as we enhance our AI capabilities and scale our platform to reach new markets,” Verdi co-founder and CEO Arthur Chen said in the release. “With NEC’s international reach and deep sector expertise, we are uniquely positioned to be a global leader.
“NEC X’s support is more than an investment — it’s a partnership focused on startup success,” Chen added.
