Key Takeaways
- Hiphen acquires Aurea Imaging’s drone phenotyping activities, strengthening its leadership in advanced drone image analytics for agriculture.
- The acquisition enhances Hiphen’s presence in Europe, a hub for digital plant phenotyping and innovative crop research.
- Aurea Imaging will now focus on its TreeScout orchard management solution, targeting fruit growers.
- The transition ensures continuity for Aurea’s clients through Hiphen’s PhenoScale® platform.
What does this acquisition mean for Hiphen?
Hiphen (Profile) has acquired the drone phenotyping activities of Aurea Imaging. This move positions Hiphen as a global leader in providing advanced image analytics and predictive solutions for crop science organizations, seed breeders, and agricultural enterprises.
Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Avignon, France, Hiphen has established itself as a trusted partner for delivering actionable insights to clients worldwide. The acquisition complements Hiphen’s 2023 expansion into the U.S. market through its purchase of SlantRange and bolsters its footprint in Europe, a hub for innovative plant research and digital phenotyping.
Dr. Alexis Comar, CEO of Hiphen, commented: “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. By integrating Aurea’s resources, we can lower costs, accelerate algorithm development, and deliver actionable insights faster, ensuring optimal decision-making during the growing season.”
What is Aurea Imaging’s new focus?
Following this divestment, Aurea Imaging will concentrate on its orchard management solutions for fruit growers. Its flagship product, TreeScout, combines hardware and software to provide tree-level insights, helping growers optimize orchard management, reduce inputs, and enhance yield.
Joost Hazelhoff, CEO of Aurea Imaging, remarked: “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. We are committed to a robust handover process to ensure a seamless transition for our customers.”
How will clients benefit from this transition?
Aurea’s clients will transition to Hiphen’s Cloverfield Data Platform, operating under the PhenoScale® product line. This ensures continuity for ongoing research projects while providing access to Hiphen’s advanced analytics tools. Hiphen’s integration of cutting-edge remote sensing, computer vision, and data science expertise is expected to accelerate the development of tools for measuring and predicting plant growth dynamics.
Both companies are confident that this acquisition will enhance agricultural research, enabling better understanding of crop genetics, management practices, and environmental interactions.
