Barcelona-based agtech company, Enkitek, has introduced its Co-Farmer platform, an AI-enhanced, IoT-driven solution that integrates seamlessly with existing hardware to deliver real-time insights and operational efficiency.
Victor Cantón Ferrer, Enkitek's CEO, and its Sales Manager, Angeline Watson, shared their vision for the platform and how they believe it is set to transform vertical farms, greenhouses, and even open-field cultivation.
The Enkitek team, from left to right: Irina Craicau (Project Manager), Victor Pechobierto (IoT Engineer), Marc Arias Mitjà (Robotics & AI Engineer), Angeline Watson (Sales Manager) and Víctor Cantón Ferrer (CEO & Co-Founder)
A software-first, adaptable approach
Cantón Ferrer is clear about the company's philosophy, explaining that the platform's design is centered on flexibility and cost efficiency. "Co-Farmer is designed to connect with any sensor or device you can imagine. This allows us to integrate with existing systems instead of farms having to buy new equipment every time technology evolves. One of the biggest challenges for farmers is avoiding constant investment in new hardware. With Co-Farmer, they can use what they already have while still gaining the benefits of AI and automation."
The platform is built to work with a variety of sensors and hardware, making it compatible with existing farm infrastructure without requiring costly upgrades. Instead of overhauling their systems, growers can easily integrate Co-Farmer into their current setup. Whether they start with a small kit supporting up to 300 devices or scale up to thousands of devices, the platform adjusts to meet their needs.
Watson highlights how this adaptability is critical for market adoption. "We're dealing with an industry that has really thin margins, and we don't want to go in and say, 'Well, you have to change a whole bunch of stuff so you can integrate new tech.' Instead, we focus on adapting to our customers rather than forcing them to adapt to us. Co-Farmer is designed to fit into existing workflows, making it easier for farms to transition to smart technology without disrupting their operations."
Harnessing AI for data-driven insights
At the heart of Co-Farmer is AI, which transforms raw data into practical recommendations. Cantón Ferrer is upfront about the challenges of implementing AI in agriculture.
"AI isn't magic, it needs data to work effectively. If you only have four data points, you won't get meaningful predictions. That's why we focus on helping farms install the right sensors and collect enough data," he says. "The more information the system has, the more accurate and valuable its insights become over time."
Co-Farmer applies machine learning models that continuously evolve, improving accuracy with each new dataset. This ensures farms receive tailored recommendations based on their specific environment. Initially, the platform detects common issues, such as overwatering, pest infestations, or diseases, by processing images in the cloud. Over time, as more data is gathered, the system provides increasingly precise forecasts.
Watson stresses that AI requires patience to show its full potential. "With AI, I think it's so important to be upfront with people. This isn't a plug-and-play solution that works overnight. It's all about long-term data collection," she says. "The more time the system has to gather and analyze data, the better the insights become. If a farm expects immediate results without feeding the system enough data, the predictions won't be useful."
The Co-Farmer dashboard
Ensuring reliable connectivity
Connectivity is a major concern for many farms, particularly those in remote or underground locations. "This is a big issue because many farms are isolated or have structures that block signals. We support multiple technologies to ensure stable communication," Cantón Ferrer says.
"For short distances, we use Wi-Fi and Zigbee, which work well in closed environments, and for long distances, we integrate LoRa, a long-range wireless protocol that can connect devices up to 10 kilometers away. Even if a farm loses its internet connection, Co-Farmer continues running offline, storing all data locally and syncing it once the connection is restored."
For more advanced setups, Co-Farmer also integrates with cloud-based networks, allowing growers to monitor their farms remotely. This flexibility ensures uninterrupted data collection and automation, even in difficult environments.
Return on investment and ongoing support
Co-Farmer is designed to optimize efficiency through automation and real-time monitoring, which Cantón Ferrer explains leads to measurable cost savings. "Think about a vertical farm with multiple shelves, where lighting, irrigation, and climate control all need to be managed. With Co-Farmer, farms can automate these processes, detect problems instantly, and respond in real time. The efficiency gains alone can be the equivalent of hiring an extra full-time employee, without the additional labor costs."
Farms using Co-Farmer have reported up to 20% reductions in water and energy consumption, demonstrating the impact of AI-driven efficiency. Watson adds that it's not just about automation, but about using data to make better decisions. "We don't want to go into a farm and tell growers that they've got to move their shelves or change how they're growing to use our system," she says. "Instead, Co-Farmer is about helping farms refine their process while keeping operations running smoothly. By giving growers clear, data-driven recommendations, we make it easier for them to improve efficiency without trial and error."
The Co-Farmer starter pack
Early-adopter campaigns
As part of its rollout strategy, Enkitek is offering growers an opportunity to get to know the Co-Farmer system. "We want to make it easy for farms to get started, so we're offering a special campaign where early adopters receive six months of free software licensing," Cantón Ferrer explains. "This gives them time to experience the benefits of Co-Farmer before committing long-term. These early users will also get priority access to future updates and AI improvements." This initiative aims to lower the barrier to entry, allowing farms to explore the benefits of AI-driven agriculture with minimal risk.
Cantón Ferrer says that the goal is to offer a "smart cost" solution that integrates with whatever hardware a grower may already have, making the shift to digital farming practical and cost-effective.
Watson believes this shift is inevitable as more farms see the potential of AI. "People are still coming around to the idea of AI in agriculture, and many still think it's just some sci-fi concept, but at the end of the day, AI is only as good as the data it's fed," she says. "The more growers use systems like Co-Farmer, the clearer it will become that this technology is not a luxury, but a necessity for staying competitive in the future of farming."
For more information:
Enkitek
Victor Cantón Ferrer, CEO
victor@enkitek.eu
www.enkitek.eu
Angeline Watson, Sales Manager
angeline@enkitek.eu
www.enkitek.eu