AgriTech startup Permia Sensing has secured a £150,000 investment from British Design Fund in a bid to increase productivity on palm plantations. Permia Sensing, a spinout from Imperial College London, aims to revolutionize palm plantation management through precision farming techniques supported by IoT, AI, sensors, and robotics. By introducing early pest detection sensors, the company aspires to improve yields by addressing challenges such as diseases, nutrient deficiencies, and drought. Permia Sensing’s acoustic sensors are capable of detecting the Red Palm Weevil (RPW) with 97% accuracy, which has caused 10% damage to the world’s coconut yield. The company is conducting pilot solutions in plantations in Sri Lanka, emphasizing link building with plantations worldwide. CEO Efrem de Paiva said, “This funding from British Design Fund will support the deployment of our technology and growth in key markets.”
Damon Bonser, CEO of the British Design Fund, said he was impressed with the depth of skill and experience within the Permia Sensing team. The company has developed technology and solutions that could increase farming efficiency and positively impact rural communities where disease and poor tree health can be devastating. According to Bonser, Permia Sensing’s strategy to improve palm plantation sustainability and generate an income for millions of farmers globally significantly contributes to rural development by creating employment opportunities and improving infrastructure in remote areas.
To address challenges such as disease, nutrient deficiencies, and drought, Permia Sensing aims to improve the efficiency of farming and enable a less toxic approach to pest control. The British Design Fund investment is essential to deploy Permia Sensing’s technology and expand its services to enhance palm plantation management worldwide.
