ITK, a company in Clapiers (Hérault) which develops connected tools for farmers, winegrowers and breeders, has just raised funds of 10 million euros. With it, it will be able to deploy its solutions internationally. Interview with Aline Bsaibes, CEO of ITK
In particular, you will deploy your tool which is used to help professionals in the event of climatic hazards. In France, this tool will be released in 2022. How will it work?
It is a tool that combines weather data and data on the stages of crop growth: vines, trees or field crops. With this combination of data, we know if the plant is vulnerable to a frost, a cold snap or a heat stroke, for example. Because it is not because it is -1 ° C that we will lose the harvest because of this low temperature, it is if these -1 ° C are combined with a stage of growth where the plant is vulnerable.
This tool works for which climatic hazards?
For the moment, it’s for frost and heatstroke.
How did the growth data come in?
The stage of growth of the plant is estimated. And if the farmer himself has observations on his plot, or if he has stages that are a little different from what we are simulating, he can adjust them.
Have you developed other tools?
Yes! For breeders, we have developed collars that we put around the necks of cows. Thanks to artificial intelligence, when cows move their heads, we can give advice to the breeder on nutrition or reproduction.
These climatic hazards are linked to climate change. You fight against, on your own scale, by advocating greener agriculture. How do you go about it?
It is with smartphone tools that transmit good practices: when it is better to plow, grass, add hedges or use organic fertilizers. They have all the information to make these decisions in an informed way and above all, while preserving their production and their profitability..
One of your future projects is to develop a tool that will help cities to carry out greening policies. What could it look like?
When you plant a tree, you have to be vigilant. It can be attacked by climatic problems linked to drought. There are also risks of illness. This tool will help the Cities to pay attention to all this.