London-based agritech startup Permia Sensing has secured a £150,000 investment from the British Design Fund.

The Imperial College London spinout has developed precision farming techniques supported by IoT, AI, sensors, and robotics to transform the way palm plantations are managed. 

This includes helping improve yields through the use of sensors that enable the early detection of damaging pests.

Palm plantations play a crucial role in global agriculture but challenges such as disease, nutrient deficiencies and drought can all impact heavily on yield. Permia Sensing improves farming efficiency, while enabling a less toxic approach to pest control.

The company’s acoustic sensors can detect the Red Palm Weevil (RPW) with 97 per cent accuracy. This insect is estimated to damage around 10% of the world’s coconut yield, and it has been declared a global threat to the food industry.

Permia Sensing is currently piloting its solutions in corporate plantations in Sri Lanka, as it continues to build connections with plantations across the tropics.

Efrem de Paiva, CEO of Permia Sensing, says:

“Palm trees provide a source of income for millions of farmers globally, significantly contributing to rural development by creating employment opportunities and improving infrastructure in remote areas. With our technology, we aim to help farmers generate the most sustainable yield from their plantations. 

This funding from the British Design Fund will support the deployment of our technology and growth in key markets.”

Damon Bonser, CEO of the British Design Fund, said: 

“Something that really stood out about Permia Sensing was the depth of skill and experience within the team.

The company has developed technology and solutions that have the potential to increase farming efficiency and yield, and positively impact rural communities, where disease and poor tree health can have a devastating effect.”

Lead image: Permia Sensing team Robyn Andrews, CFO, Efrem de Paiva, CEO, and Hasitha Wegiriya, CTO. Photo: uncredited.