Utrecht-based Aurea Imaging, an agtech startup specializing in tree-level sensor systems for orchard agriculture, has raised €2.8 million in a Series A funding round.
The round included participation from Dutch impact investor Pymwymic (an existing pre-series A investor in the company) as well as a consortium of investors including ROM Utrecht Region, Knop Ventures, Goeie Grutten Impact Fonds and BarUni Family Fund.
The consortium brings experience in agtech and impact investing, positioning Aurea Imaging well for its next phase of growth.
Kee Koopmans, Investment Director at Goeie Grutten Impact Fonds, said: “We are excited to be joining Aurea’s upcoming efforts with this group of impact investors focused on a sustainable transition in agriculture towards a healthier future for soils, farmers and consumers.”
“We believe Aurea has developed a very smart and practical solution for growers that will help reduce pesticide use and improve farmers’ yields.”
Crop Information Company
Founded in 2016, Aurea Imaging claims to have emerged at the dawn of precision technology in orchards, serving pioneering growers seeking tree-level agricultural solutions.
With an average of 3,000 trees per hectare and variable fruit yields, Aurea aimed to maximise productivity by customising treatments for each tree, instead of traditional whole-field sprays.
The company’s TreeScout system assesses individual trees based on parameters such as flower density and vigour, generating digital prescription maps for tractor-mounted machinery such as sprayers.
This approach has increased yields by up to €3,500 per hectare while reducing labour and pesticide use by up to 90 percent.
“Fruit cultivation is carried out on a large scale all over the world. Precision agriculture has great potential to create the sustainable orchards of the future,” says Joyce Hauterman, investment manager at the ROM Utrecht Region.
“With TreeScout, Aurea has demonstrated that it has a unique (economically) verified technological solution that optimizes production while minimizing environmental impact. ROM Utrecht Region is very pleased to support Aurea’s future development together with a strong investor consortium.”
Capital Utilization
The funding will enable Aurea to expand the deployment of TreeScout, a tractor-mounted sensor system that enables precision agriculture applications at tree level throughout the farming season.
Additionally, proceeds will be used to support the continued development of new applications for the TreeScout platform.
Aurea Imaging received the investment to focus solely on advancing its TreeScout technology.
Founder Bert Reich will focus on product development as Chief Product Officer, while co-founder Jost Hezelhoff will become CEO and lead the company’s growth and commercial strategy.
“I think the company is very well positioned for the next phase and I am very excited to be a part of it,” said Hazelhoff. “We have a clear idea of where we want to go and what we need to be successful, and the whole team is very motivated to get there.”
