Investment in autonomous drones contributes to the digitization of greenhouses

Corvus Drones from Ede, the Netherlands, develops and produces drones that can fly fully autonomously in greenhouses. The drones collect valuable data for crop monitoring. With this information, growers can produce food more efficiently and sustainably. For the further development of the drone and scaling up the marketing activities, Corvus Drones has raised an investment from Navus Ventures, ECG Ventures, and Oost NL.

Drone close up

Greenhouse horticulture is struggling with several challenges: Worldwide, the greenhouses acreage is growing by 5-10% per year, nursery operations are becoming increasingly complex, and there is a structural staff shortage. Drones offer a solution by automating various tasks. With the help of cameras and sensors, the Corvus drone can, for example, carry out seed germination counting or monitor crop growth.

“In greenhouse horticulture, there is a great need for data concerning crop growth. For a grower, it’s almost impossible to monitor the crop in every part of the greenhouse on a daily basis. More insight leads to fewer cultivation risks and a more efficient supply chain. This saves costs for growers and contributes to sustainable and efficient food production,” explains Frans-Peter Dechering, co-founder of Corvus Drones.

Useful cultivation information for growers
Corvus’ customers are growers or cultivation specialists from horticultural companies. They can subscribe to drone services. The drone flies over or between the crops and makes recordings, and the software translates the images into useful information. The first customers are already using the services of Corvus Drones.

“Horticultural companies have become so large that crop information is automatically necessary on a large scale. Our ambition is to make the drone application possible for every grower worldwide. This way, we also make a significant contribution to an even more sustainable production chain,” explains Dechering.

The team with Corvus Drones

For the development of this drone, we worked closely with several launching customers to translate theory into practice and with application developers who, for example, create AI models for analyzing the collected data, like Track 32, also based in Food Valley Wageningen. “Unique from our drone is that it navigates autonomy based on vision because GPS signals are too weak to use in a greenhouse. In addition, the drone must be able to ‘look’ very precisely at young plants – that makes positioning a challenge.”

Investment for further market introduction
Oost NL has been involved in the company’s early phases through the ION+ program since 2019. This enabled the entrepreneurs to further develop and validate the technology. The drone is now ready for market introduction for young plants, pot plant growers, and breeders. “With this new investment, we can optimize the drone, develop new applications and prepare the organization for the further commercial roll-out of the product,” says Dechering.

Carl Heijne, senior investment manager Food at Oost NL: “Producers can use this drone to better control production and predict harvests more accurately. It reduces food waste. Dutch horticulture is seen worldwide as a leader in the field of production and innovation. Companies like Corvus are essential to this. They form a bridge between knowledge institutions and growers by putting innovations on the market in a practically applicable and affordable way.” Oost NL invests from the Participation Fund Oost NL.

Founders Corvus Drones (left: Frans-Peter Dechering, right: Gerhold ten Voorde)

Jacco Zuijdweg, investment manager at ECG Ventures: “These drones collect a large amount of data from the crops. And more importantly: Corvus Drones works together with the right partners to convert this data into useful information for the growers. This gives growers easy and effective insight into the condition and growth of their crops. We are proud to be able to contribute to an important next step towards fully autonomous flying drones in horticulture.”

Jaap Zijlstra, investment manager, Navus Ventures: “Corvus Drones provides a valuable service to growers in greenhouse horticulture who embrace digitization and automation to improve their business, not only delivering the data but also bringing it to a tangible follow-up together with their partners. This investment fits perfectly within our strategy to support innovative start-ups that contribute to the transition to sustainable food and energy.”