The firm uses algorithms to predict the optimal time to maximize the efficacy of pollination.
Ofri Yongrman Sela, who oversees avocado, wheat and persimmon production at the Eyal kibbutz, said that of all the unknowns in his line of work, pollination is the most difficult to manage. A recent report by Start-Up Nation Central, a non-governmental organization that promotes Israeli technology, listed more than 500 agri-tech companies in Israel.
“At the end of the day, he remained alone,” said Maor, who proceeded to found and head Tevel, a company that uses drones to pick fruit from trees.“At the same time, crops will increase — there will be more people and more consumption. The gap is growing, and that’s where robotics enter.” The drones use suction to gently pull the fruit off the branch and place it in a bin, with humans needed mainly to oversee their operation, Maor noted.