Source.ag

This interview details Source.ag, an indoor farming technology company based in the Netherlands. The interview is with Rien Kamman, CEO & Co-Founder of Source.ag.

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What is the origin story of Source.ag?

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Source.ag was founded by Rien Kamman (CEO) and Ernst van Bruggen (CPO) in November 2020. They met during their Mechanical Engineering degree in TU Delft but reconnected while doing their MBA at Columbia University, where they started thinking about ways to “leverage data science for good”, triggered by the desire to help make the world a little better for the next generation.

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After leaving their careers at Boston Consulting Group and McKinsey, where they both led data science teams developing custom AI software for the world’s largest corporations, Rien and Ernst started engaging with stakeholders in the greenhouse sector. They quickly realized that while covered agriculture has great potential for climate-resilient food production, it is limited by the high dependence on and shortage of growers to operate these facilities. Thus, the idea for Source.ag was born, putting the power of AI into the hands of growers worldwide to support them in optimizing their crop growth and help them to start, run and expand a farming business. 

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What are some of the biggest challenges facing Source.ag in the future? 

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Of course, the changes in the economic environment are a challenge for everyone. Growers are putting more scrutiny on investment decisions. For us, this means we need to show the value we can create for growers from day 1. We are fortunate that our solutions support growers in managing their resource usage and costs, which actually has become even more important in these more volatile times. Acceptance and adoption of new innovative technologies is challenging in any industry, but likely even more challenging in agriculture.

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That is why our software is developed in partnership with growers, to make sure our customers get maximum value from our products. We see ourselves not as software vendors, but as long-term partners for growers to support them in running successful growing operations.

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What is unique about Source.ag compared to competitors? 

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Source.ag aims to make covered agriculture accessible, profitable, and globally scalable using its pioneering AI technology to track and improve cultivation. Its technology provides growers with advice on the optimal cultivation strategy, supporting them to make sure these strategies are as efficient as possible. Source.ag focuses on the largest global fresh vegetable segments such as tomato, cucumbers, and peppers, with the ambition to ultimately help all fruit and vegetable growers.

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After the successful commercial launch and implementation of its first product, Source Track, which tracks, compares, and improves cultivations, the company will be launching two new products in 2024. Source Cultivate and Source Control will enable growers to simulate full seasons of crop growth and yield - tailored to specific gene and crop varieties - and autonomously execute irrigation strategies in order to help them grow their best crops.

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What are some other relevant metrics of the company (growing facilities active, square meters under management, team size, etc.)?

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• Grown team to over 100, from 20 at the start of 2022
• Multidisciplinary team of AI specialists, plant scientists, product experts, and engineers
• Operating in 15 countries
• 1400ha of growers already use Source Solutions
• Partnerships with more than 200 greenhouses globally 

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What are some goals in 2024 and beyond for Source.ag?

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We want to partner with even more growers -  both high-tech as well as mid- and low-tech - around the world, to help them to start, run, and grow their business in an ever-complex world. With the introduction of our two new products, Source Control and Source Cultivate, which will be launched later this year, we can even better help growers make the right decisions at the right time and support them with autonomous execution of those decisions. Our AI software acts as the growers’s co-pilot, keeping a 24/7 watch over their operations, advising on optimal growing strategies, and helping implement such decisions in their facilities and farming operations. 

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How can people connect with you or learn more about Source.ag?

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People can connect with us through our website, where people can also request a demo of our products. And people should also keep an eye on our LinkedIn channel where we share the latest news and updates.

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