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AVIGNON, FRANCE (January 6, 2025).
Hiphen and Aurea Imaging, two trailblazers in remote sensing, computer vision, and artificial intelligence for agriculture, have announced a major development: Hiphen is acquiring Aurea Imaging’s digital phenotyping activities. This strategic acquisition solidifies Hiphen’s status as the leading provider of advanced drone image analytics and predictive solutions for crop science organizations and agricultural enterprises worldwide.
Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Avignon, France, Hiphen has been delivering high-value data to seed breeders, product developers, food processors, vertical farms, and crop researchers across the globe. With expertise in image analysis and integrated solution systems, Hiphen has earned its reputation as a trusted partner in the agricultural industry. In 2023, Hiphen expanded its reach to the U.S. market with the acquisition of California-based SlantRange. Now, with the acquisition of Aurea Imaging’s phenotyping activities, Hiphen strengthens its position in Europe, a region renowned for its early adoption of digital plant phenotyping and innovative plant research ecosystem.
“The market for drone-based phenotyping in plant breeding and product development is evolving rapidly, and consolidation is essential to drive innovation and deliver maximum value to our clients,” said Dr. Alexis Comar, CEO of Hiphen. “By integrating Aurea’s resources and expertise, we can lower costs, accelerate trait and algorithm development, and deliver actionable insights faster, enabling optimal decision-making during the growing season. This acquisition reflects our commitment to advancing agricultural research globally, ensuring our clients gain deeper insights into their crops and extract greater value from their research efforts.”
On the other side, this divestment enables Aurea Imaging to focus on its orchard management strategy for fruit growers. Aurea has developed TreeScout, a hardware-software solution that provides tree-level insights to optimize orchard management by reducing inputs and enhancing yield.
“Since our founding, Aurea has been privileged to collaborate with leading seed breeders worldwide. While this divestment allows us to accelerate the roll-out of TreeScout, we are pleased that our customers will benefit from Hiphen’s state-of-the-art drone phenotyping platform and analytics to further their research initiatives,” said Joost Hazelhoff, CEO of Aurea Imaging. “We are committed to a robust handover process to ensure a seamless transition for our customers.”
Under this transition, Aurea's clients will benefit from Hiphen’s expertise through the Cloverfield Data Platform under the PhenoScale® product line, ensuring continuity and supporting their research endeavors. Both companies are confident this acquisition will spur the development of advanced tools to precisely measure and predict plant growth dynamics in response to genetics, management practices, and environmental factors.
By leveraging cutting-edge remote sensing and data science methods, Hiphen aims to enhance global agricultural efficiency, fostering a resilient and sustainable future for crop research and food production.
AVIGNON, FRANCE (June 5, 2023).
Hiphen and SlantRange, two pioneers in the application of remote sensing, computer vision, and artificial intelligence for agriculture, today announced they are joining forces. Hiphen is acquiring SlantRange to form the leading source of advanced crop measurement and prediction solutions to crop science companies and agricultural enterprises worldwide.
Hiphen SA, of Avignon, France, has been delivering high value data to seed breeders, product developers, food processors, vertical farms, and crop researchers across the globe since 2014. Its core competencies in image analysis and solution systems have positioned it as a trusted partner in the industry. However, it only started exploring the North American market in 2020.
"We are excited about the synergy created by SlantRange's extensive patent portfolio and growing US customer base, which perfectly complements Hiphen's analytics capability and strong European presence," stated Alexis Comar, CEO of Hiphen. "This merger will provide us with a broader capability to make impactful analytical tools accessible to the global agriculture market."
Hiphen and Slantrange are joining forces to deliver insightful drone and satellite data to plant breeders in North America.
SlantRange, Inc., of San Diego, California, USA, has built a significant presence in the North American crop input market through its innovative methods for quantifying and predicting crop performance. It brings an extensive patent portfolio, deep engineering and data sciences skill base, and industry relationships to the partnership.
Michael Ritter, CEO of SlantRange, added, "We’re thrilled to complement Hiphen’s capabilities with our own. Through this combination we’ll be able to deliver an expanded, more responsive service portfolio across a broader global footprint."
The combined company will operate globally under the Hiphen brand and will accelerate new tools to market that accurately and efficiently quantify and predict plant development in response to management, genetics, and environment. The company aims for its remote sensing and data science methods to underpin future improvements to global food production efficiency and sustainability.
"We are committed to supplying agricultural researchers and producers with innovative solutions to produce more food, feed, fuel, and fiber on fewer acres to meet the demands of the 21st century," emphasized Hiphen’s business development director Lee West.
Media Contacts:
Lee West
lwest@hiphen-plant.com
+1 540 309 3353