After returning to the farm in 2017, Fiona identified issues with the dataset and available software that were supposed to help her manage her crops.
Bitwise Agronomy brings farming together with modern technologies like AI and machine learning to turn data into information for making decisions, so farms can improve forecasting, reduce operating costs and increase the gross margin. Bitwise Agronomy’s agtech solution, called GreenView, uses AI to analyse video footage from crops to accurately forecast yield and help guide management decisions. The improved accuracy of yield forecasting feeds into, and improves, the whole supply chain by giving price stability for growers, distributors and consumers. GreenView currently works with strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, wine grapes, table grapes, and snacking cucumbers.
For Fiona, the number of female-specific programs like Catalyst is limited and the challenges females in the ag and deep tech space face in knocking down barriers and getting in front of investors and partners are significant. Rural locations can also inherently make networking difficult, and with the investment market facing headwinds Fiona sees great benefit in being able to receive guidance around honing her pitch and market approach. Through the Catalyst Program, Fiona hopes to build professional networks and tap into a cohort of other women in agtech who are at similar stages in their innovation journeys.