In Hawke's Bay orchards, a new technology is being trialled that might help save water use within horticulture. In fact, the Croptide company has closed a $4.25 million seed funding raised for the commercial pilots. The company created sensors which are plugged into the stem of plants, like apple trees, grapevines or kiwifruit vines, measuring the water status in real-time.
Croptide chief executive Hamish Penny said there had been a lot of interest and tests around the country had been successful: "We've been working with some great partners for the last couple of years while we develop the technology, Zespri, T&G, Rockit, Villa Maria, Cloudy Bay and Pernod Ricard have been our first supporters. They've been running tests for us and now we doing significant commercial trials this summer."
"Croptide's insights have shown us there's an opportunity to be much more precise through having irrigation decisions driven from the plant. The plant can literally tell you when it needs to be watered. In some cases this can reduce water usage by over 50 percent, while maximising yield and fruit quality outcomes," Penny said.
Source: rnz.co.nz