In 2020 California-based HummingBirdEV launched its first all-electric powertrain systems in farm equipment. For a year, four Hummingbird® 65HP electric tractors have been in field-testing working around farms, through harvest, and around the processing plant at Moonlight Companies in Reedley, California. Now the company has a new all-electric Class 6 mobile Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) charging tender truck, delivered to Moonlight Companies last week to begin its field testing phase. Vehicle to Vehicle Charging (V2V) Hummingbird tractors were previously being charged solely from a Hummingbird® wall-charger, but now they can be recharged directly in the field / orchard. The tractors are simply…
Author: Matt Peskett
Matt Peskett
Matt has worked in digital publishing and media for over two decades across the science, technology, food and agricultural sectors. With a lifelong passion for growing his own food, Matt also produces 300kg giant pumpkins for exhibition and volunteers with the Royal Horticultural Society. He has a sizeable horticultural social media presence and has been a finalist in the Garden Media Guild's blog of the year and social media awards. Matt also dabbles in start-up investment with companies like Small Robot Company, Drone Ag and RootWave.
A ribeye steak has become something of a weekend treat in my home during pandemic lockdowns, food being one of the few indulgences remaining to lift one’s mood. It’s exciting to see that the world’s first cultivated ‘slaughter-free’ ribeye steak has now been produced by Israeli company Aleph Farms Ltd. and its research partner at the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering at the Technion (Israel’s Institute of Technology). It may not come directly from a cow but I wouldn’t hesitate to fry one up with some garlic and onions, it might not be long before that’s an option. 3D bioprinting technology Unlike 3D…
In 2019 Deere & Company launched its Startup Collaborator program within its Intelligent Solutions Group. The program exists to work with technology start-ups whose technology could add value for John Deere customers in the future. 2021 marks the third year for the program with a new group of start-up companies on board. The year-long program enables John Deere and selected start-up companies to test innovative technologies with customers and dealers without the need for a more formal business relationship. Understanding how new technology can be connected to existing systems and equipment at John Deere can be very beneficial for new product…
Leading Russian agricultural enterprises have created a new platform for sharing experiences and promoting initiatives relating to the digitalization of the country’s agricultural sector. The Smart Farming Club (SFC) initiative launches with over fifty owners and senior managers at large Russian agricultural holdings among its ranks. These executive members are already responsible for the digitalization of their respective agricultural businesses. “The main objectives of the club are to eliminate problem points in the digitalization of the agro-industrial complex and exchange best practices to form global trends in technological development processes” says Bjoerne Drechsler, Chairman of Smart Farming Club and member…
Danish companies SKOV A/S and ENORM Biofactory A/S have entered into a partnership to develop climate control and production systems for insect farms. SKOV brings over 40 years of expertise in farm livestock ventilation systems whilst ENORM are specialists in the production of insect protein for fish and animal feed. ENORM is no stranger to business partnerships, existing partners include GEA, Haarslev, Sealing System, WEDA and Veng System. Insects for a sustainable future By 2025 the production of insects is expected to grow by 30-40% annually (according to Meticulous Research). Insects can be processed into fat and protein and are expected to…
John Deere’s new flagship X Series combine harvesters have been honoured in the Robotics category of the 2021 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Innovation Awards. The category highlights programmable or otherwise intelligent machines capable of performing specific tasks or replicating human movement or interactions. Products are also evaluated on their engineering and functionality, aesthetics, and design; and what makes the product unique and innovative. “John Deere is honoured to receive this award as it highlights our ongoing commitment to agriculture, innovation and technology,” said Jahmy Hindman, chief technology officer for John Deere. “The award recognizes our efforts to build cutting-edge smart…
New Holland Agriculture and Case IH are the global agricultural machinery brands of CNH Industrial N.V. Between them they have won have won nine ASABE 2021 AE50 awards, two for New Holland and seven for Case IH. These prestigious annual awards from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) are conferred by a panel of international engineering experts and chosen on the basis of their impact on advanced engineering for the food and agricultural industries. Two AE50 Awards for New Holland 1. The BigBaler 340 High Density large square baler produces bales of up to 22% higher density than…
Moleaer’s nanobubble technology is being used in all sorts of settings to reduce the growth of pathogenic micro-organisms and algae blooms in water, whilst cutting the use of algaecides and chemicals. Nanobubbles can help improve water quality in farm irrigation systems, dirty water treatment tanks, fish farms and natural water sources like reservoirs. Now in collaboration with AMI Global, an industrial IoT technology provider, Moleaer is launching new real-time water quality and equipment remote monitoring services. Initially AMI’s Internet of Things (IoT) technology will be applied to the ‘Clear’, Moleaer’s lake and pond water treatment system, allowing end-users to monitor…
Nokia is a global company with an evolutionary history firmly founded in electronic and radio communications. At the turn of the century Nokia was famous for leading the mobile phone device sector, reaching a 60% market share of the smartphone sector in 2010. Since then Samsung and Apple have become the dominant players and you’d be forgiven for thinking that Nokia has gone by the wayside. However, a decade later Nokia is still going strong, with a focus on the networks that do the connecting rather than only the devices that use them. ‘We create the technology to connect the world’…
Ideanomics, a global company focused on the convergence of financial services and industries experiencing technological disruption, has increased its stake in California-based Solectrac, Inc. Solectrac develops, assembles and distributes 100% battery-powered electric tractors for agriculture and utility operations. Ideanomics had already increased its stake to 14.7% of Solectrac, Inc. last month (October 2020). Today an additional $1.3 million investment has been announced which takes the company’s ownership to 24% (reducing to approximately 22% post-money once additional third-party investment is finalized). This additional investment reflects investment interest in Solectrac by ESG funds which is expected to close in the coming weeks.…
