1. M2M in Agriculture
Why my smartphone is now
my best farm hand
Lew Roth
VP Business Development, ClimateMinder

2. Overview
• The agriculture opportunity
• Affordable data collection enabled by M2M
• Technology integration is challenging, but not the
main business challenge
• Application software that makes “farm sense” of
the data is a stronger adoption driver than ROI

3. Water
• Water availability and cost
is the biggest issue for
agriculture
• More efficient irrigation
practices increase yield and
quality
• New pressure on growers
– 2009 California Water
Legislation
• Agricultural output needs
to double by 2050

4. US Irrigated Farmland
Irrigation Water Withdrawal by Method
 57 million acres of irrigated farmland in US
Sprink
43%
Flood
50% Micro-i
Sprinkler
Surfac
7%
Drip
* Irrigation statistics by “Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2005” Report, USGS, U.S. Department of the Interior
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5. Example High Value Crops in CA
Berries Nuts Grapes (All) Vegetables
151K Acres 1.8M Acres 1M Acres 2.7M Acres
10K Farms 39K Farms 25K Farms 23K Farms
Highly perishable berry crops can yield of $30,000 + per acre
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6. Grower Needs
• Getting quantitative, reliable field data
• Soils profiling and soils management
• Turning irrigation ON
• Turning irrigation OFF
• Optimizing use of fertilizers
• Microclimate monitoring (frost,
excessive heat)
• Pest control

7. Crop and Irrigation
Monitoring and Control Solution

8. What is ClimateMinder?
 ClimateMinder is a wireless climate and soil
monitoring and control system for agriculture.
 It helps growers use water more efficiently and
increase yield while reducing costs.
 In addition, system enables:
 Immediate frost response
 Healthier nutrient/pesticide application
 Better micro-climate coverage
 Run-off minimization due to over-irrigation

9. How does it work?
Data Gathering Data Transmission Data Access
Irrigation Control

10. Supported Sensor Types
• Ambient Temperature & Humidity
• Light / Solar Radiation
• Soil Moisture, Temperature, EC
• Leaf Wetness
• Tensiometer
• Wind
• Rain
• Flow

11. Sensor Node / Soil Station

12. Sensor Node / Soil Station

13. Cellular Gateway

14. Low Cost GrowFlex
4
7
1 5
2
8
6
3
GW
Patent-pending, redundant & cost effective wireless monitoring
& control system with mesh technology

15. Growers Requirements
• “How it works” matters less than “that it works!”
• Fully integrated and supported services model
• No wires in the field
• No PC needed on-site
• Data is remote, accessible, safe, and backed up
• No software to be installed or updated
• Low power consumption, long battery life
• Portable nodes with good coverage e.g., 1 per 10
acres and easy to set up

16. Web Application Software

17. Configuration Map

18. Dashboard

19. Sensor Readings

20. Interactive Soil Profile Charts

21. When to Irrigate?

22. Degree Days and More…

23. Daily Custom Reports (in PDF)

24. Alerts via SMS or Phone

25. Growers Notepad

26. Mobile Application Software

27. GrowMobileTM Screenshots

28. GrowMobileTM Screenshots

29. GrowMobileTM Screenshots

30. Customer Value Proposition
Total Acreage 100
Crop Strawberry
Assumptions / Variables
Water cost per acre-foot $200
Pesticide cost per acre $200
Avg. Tonnage per Acre 30
Avg. Crop Value per Ton $1,100
Seasonal Water Need per Acre (acre-foot) 3.20
Incremental Profit Margin for Extra Yield 10%
Crop Value per Acre $33,372
Water cost per acre $640
Total Annual Water Costs $64,015
Total Annual Pesticide Cost (Including Material & Application) $20,000

31. Customer Value Proposition
Case 1 Case 2
Percent Percent
Improvement Improvement
/ /
Increased Risk Increased Risk
ROI Item Savings Profit Avoidance Savings Profit Avoidance
Reduction in Wasted Water Due
to Optimized Irrigation $3,201 5% $6,402 10%
Reduction in Wasted Pesticides
Due to Premature
Application $1,000 5% $2,000 10%
Reduction in Wasted Crop Due
to Failure to Spray/Control $3,771 0.10% $3,771 0.10%
Reduction in Loss Due to Proper
Frost Management $3,771 0.10% $3,771 0.10%
Improvement in Quality or Yield
Due to Optimized Irrigation $3,372 1% $16,859 5%
Total Annual Benefit $11,742 $3,372 $15,943 $16,859
Sum of Savings and Benefits $15,114 $32,802
Case 1 Case 2
Pay back period 9 months 4 months
Annual return on subscription 9x 20x

32. Recent Adopters
• Bolthouse Farms (Carrots)
• Bay View Farms (Strawberries)
• Pacific Berry Farms (Strawberries)
• Berry Valley Farms (Strawberries)
• McGrath Family Farms (Organic Pumpkins)
• Catalinos Berry Farms (Raspberries)
• Driscoll’s (Raspberries & Hyroponic Strawberries)
• Mandalay Berry Farms (Strawberries)
• Saticoy Berry Farms (Strawberries)
• …

33. Where is the value to the grower?
• Sophisticated micro-climate monitoring and control
• User friendly web-based software
• Enhanced mobile user experience through GrowMobileTM
• Innovative & affordable service model
• Easiest installation and maintenance in the industry
• No local PC required. Data stored remotely
• Flexibility to add or remove sensors
• Continuous support and warranty

34. Thank you…
ClimateMinder, Inc.
3501 Ocean View Blvd.
Glendale, CA 91208
Phone: 818-495-4922
1868 Greenwich St.,
San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone: 415-742-8636
www.ClimateMinder.com