Revolution in agriculture
In the agricultural sector, startup Techponics offers an innovative solution to the challenges of growing lettuce and leafy greens in open fields.
Technical challenges and innovative solutions
Field cultivation is weakened by three major problems: climate change, dependence on unskilled seasonal labor, and increasing restrictions on the use of fertilizers and pesticides. In response to these challenges, Techponics has developed an above-ground cultivation system that stands out for its simplicity, efficiency, productivity and, above all, flexibility. The startup has developed a system for automating cultivation in hydroponic basins – a system that considerably reduces the need for water and chemicals, while maximizing space and productivity.
The crucial role of technology
The heart of Techponics’ innovation lies in its automated crop management system, which adjusts the spacing of plants according to their growth. This ensures constant optimization of space and resources, boosting productivity tenfold compared with open fields. What’s more, this modular, flexible system enables the simultaneous cultivation of different varieties, which is unique in the industry today.
Overcoming obstacles: the Techponics quest
The main challenge was to design a system that was both more productive and less costly than existing methods in the field. To achieve this, Techponics embarked on a process of continuous innovation, supported by technology watch and rigorous testing. The search for funding and new customers is underway: the start-up is now aiming to extend its technology beyond Switzerland’s borders. The next important milestone is the commercialization of its system, with several active exchanges with key industry players in Europe and the United States, to discover the technology proposed by the Fribourg-based start-up.
Successful collaboration with Fri Up
Collaboration with Fri Up, under the leadership of Yann Steulet, was a decisive factor in the development of the project. Fri Up provided support in terms of advice, expertise, networking and access to key resources.