For AI-based Seed Quality Testing Agritech Startup 'Agdhi' Awarded the BIRAC's 'BIG' Grant of $70K

Agdhi, Agritech Startup awarded the Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG), a Flagship Program by BIRAC

Agdhi has received a grant of USD 70,000/- for their flagship product ‘SEEDVISION’

(SEEDVISION is an AI-based seed Phenotyping method)

Bangalore, 17 August 2021: Agdhi, an agritech start-up, announced that the company has been awarded the Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) which is a flagship program by BIRAC. Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a not-for-profit Public Sector Enterprise and largest early stage biotech funding programme. Agdhi has received a grant from BIG for USD 70,000/- for their flagship product, “SeedVision- Seed Classifier and Quality Analyser.”

SeedVision is an AI-based seed phenotyping method that classify critical parameters of a seed in a few minutes. This product would help the farmers get good seeds for cultivation and help growers improve the number of cycles because of faster payment realization from seed companies. This automated technique provides an efficient method for seed sorting compared to manual inspection, and the reports are accessible on a real-time basis.

"BIG team at C-CAMP quoted "The entire team at Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) have been a part of extensive discussions with the team Agdhi all through the 5 months of the Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) application process and are very glad to have them on board as an awardee. The need and gap in the seed assessment market was clearly validated and executed till the idea to proof of principle stage by the technical team at Agdhi. We recognise the proposed solution at Agdhi is tailor-made, traction oriented and look forward to many more discussions through and post the BIG grant."

Speaking on this occasion, Vaibhav Kashikar Co-Founder & Director (Marketing) – Agdhi, said, “We are delighted to announce the grant we have received that will support start-ups like us in bringing technology closer to market and help in the commercialization of the product across India”. He further added that with a vision to disrupt technology in the agriculture sector, we plan to bring new technologies like block chain, edge computing, IoT, and microbiology in agriculture.

Agdhi is an agritech startup based in Bengaluru which aims to create the next revolution in agriculture. The startup is revolutionizing agriculture by introducing digital technology and building alternative solutions to facilitate sustainable methods in agriculture.

Agdhi has won National Bio Entrepreneurship Competition #NBEC2020 for best Agri Tech start up and has recently joined NVIDIA Inception, a program designed to nurture startups revolutionizing industries with advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data sciences.

Thus, today Agdhi is building new age products & solutions catering to the seed & farmers community.

About Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) Flagship Program by BIRAC

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a not-for-profit Public Sector Enterprise, set up by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India as an Interface Agency to strengthen and empower the emerging Biotech enterprise to undertake strategic research and innovation, addressing nationally relevant product development needs.

BIG is the largest early stage biotech funding programme in India. It is currently managed through 8 BIG Partners across the country who works with the Ignition grantees (BIG Innovators) to provide mentoring, monitoring, networking and other business development related activities.

Agdhi Introduces Vision Based Intelligence in Agriculture

Agdhi Introduces Vision Based Intelligence in Agriculture

Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Edge Computing and Spectral Imaging Techniques to detect the defects in seeds and crops.

Bangalore, 11 January 2021: Agdhi, an agritech startup based in Bengaluru has introduced vision enabled AI-based technology in agriculture. It has launched machine learning and computer vision techniques in detecting the defects in the seeds and crops thus enabling the farming community to get quality seeds and crops. These quality results are provided in seconds instead of waiting for a long time using traditional methods. This will bring technology disruption in seed testing, seed sampling and crop yield which is the need of the hour. 

The traditional method of detecting seed defects typically relies on manual inspection, which is resource hectic and subjective. Therefore, an objective and automated seed screening method was required. Thus, Agdhi through AI (Artificial Intelligence) Vision technology, Photometry, Radiometry and Computer Vision offers efficient methods for Seed Classification and Seed Quality Analysis. The color, texture, size, and shape, is extracted from images of seeds, and the defects of the seed identified through various classifiers based on computer vision. This automation provides an efficient method for seed sorting than being inspected by human labor.

According to Nikhil Das, Founder – Agdhi, "Today, India is seeing a huge disruption in agriculture through technology. Agriculture which is both a major industry and foundation of the economy is looking for innovative approaches in protecting & improving crop yield. With this aim we plan to introduce next Generation Electronics products optimized for agriculture."

Nikhil Das - Founder Agdhi

He further added that the novel & innovative technologies need to be introduced in the market in seed testing & seed sampling to accurately assess the seed quality and provide the crucial data thus helping the farmers in getting good yield."

Today, the company is working on technologies like Block chain, Edge computing, AI, IoT and microbiology in agriculture."

About Agdhi

Agdhi is an agritech startup based in Bengaluru which aims to create the next revolution in agriculture. The startup is revolutionizing agriculture by introducing digital technology and building alternative solutions to facilitate sustainable methods in agriculture. Agdhi is the dream venture of Nikhil Das (Former CTO Havells Group, Founder of Promptec LED Lights) and Anshad Ameenza (President Innovation Incubator Advisory, Advisor for multiple start up). Under the leadership of Nikhil and Anshad, Agdhi is a group of young potential headed by Abhijith K as GM, Anup G Prasad in Projects, and Bhartendu Thakur in AI.

Agdhi has won National Bio Entrepreneurship Competition #NBEC2020 for best Agri Tech start up and secured 4 lakh dollar investment opportunity from venture capitalist.

Thus, today Agdhi is building new age products & solutions catering to the seed & farmers community.