Fruitminder is a startup which is developing an orchard-growing software system with a database built around individual trees.
Currently being trialled on Mike and Rebecca Casey’s Forest Lodge cherry orchard at Mt Pisa, it created a metric on individual trees that will hold historical data.
Every tree was identified with its own virtual GPS tag that can be picked up on a mobile device by employees using the app or robotic solutions when scanning the orchard.
That means growers can make informed decisions about labour input, sprays applied, soil compaction and emissions, and increase yield and productivity through having that data available.
Chief executive Seb Chapman said Fruitminder was now going into a funding round and hoped to raise about $400,000 for the next stage of its development.
Last year, the project was awarded Ministry for Primary Industries funding of $44,680 and industry funding of $180,124 through the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund.
In his talks with potential investors, Mr Chapman said he particularly wanted to work with people who shared a passion for the primary industries and understood the vision.
Originally from Levin, he grew up on a small farm and went dairy farming after leaving school, which spurred his passion for the primary industries.
A keen mountain biker, he later headed overseas to ride for a few seasons before pondering what he would do on his return to New Zealand.
He spent time in the construction industry and then returned to study.
He always wanted to do something supplementary to the primary industries and, having seen the software being used in the harvest season in Australia, he started getting ideas.
Attracted to Queenstown for the mountain-biking, he crossed paths with Mr Casey and they talked about Fruitminder.
Last year’s grant allowed them to build out on their hypothesis of whether the GPS tagging system would work.
Ultimately, Mr Chapman said growers would be able to optimise opportunities, save costs and increase production from their orchard.
Each individual tree had information stored about it — data inputs were taken from phenotyping, environmental inputs and operational inputs — and then insights could be provided as to what was making a difference.
If a grower removed five of their least performing trees and replaced them with genetics from good performing trees, then they would pay off their subscription.
Many growers replaced trees by removing whole rows or blocks but, by using the Fruitminder technology, they did not have to cull highly productive trees.
While similar technology existed at block or orchard level, Mr Chapman was not aware of any that got down to individual trees — even after doing research.
He believed that was likely because it had not been economical until now.
"To do it previously, to get that information in, would be so laborious it wouldn’t be worth doing."
But now, with the ability of smartphones to pick up GPS points, it was feasible.
Feedback had been sought from both industry body Summerfruit NZ and individual growers, and there was some "‘really good excitement" about the product.
A small group were ready to try it before it was brought on to the market commercially.
Mr Chapman had spent a lot of time talking to people in the industry, including "amazing" horticulture consultant Earnscy Weaver, of Alexandra.
His own dairy farming background had proven very helpful around understanding inputs and biology.
He had always been interested in the genetics side of the dairy herd and, if improved genetics could be utilised in horticulture, then that had to be beneficial.
It was not just about cherries; it would work with anything that grew in a row.
Some in the medicinal cannabis industry had expressed interest and said such a tool was needed.
Mr Chapman believed New Zealand was in a unique position because it was very good at primary industries and it also had a burgeoning tech industry. Ag tech was the "perfect pair".
Queenstown was also the "perfect spot" to be building a business like Fruitminder — it was in the hub of a fruit and wine growing region and there were also a lot of tech people in the resort.
He was looking for a senior developer and hoped that the Queenstown lifestyle would attract applicants.
