Agriculture, which accounts for approximately 70% of the world’s freshwater, faces challenges related to water scarcity and outdated irrigation techniques. Conventional irrigation approaches not only squander water and nutrients but also lead to diminished crop yields, heightened food insecurity, and escalating carbon emissions.
Based in Hong Kong, agriculture tech startup Full Nature Farms believes there is a more efficient solution. At CES 2025, the company unveiled its Rocket 2.0 Smart Irrigation Platform, an innovative system that harnesses data and artificial intelligence to cut water costs by 30%, decrease energy consumption, and enhance crop yields.
Founded by CEO Ray Lok in 2019, Full Nature Farms stems from Lok’s previous venture, Evergreens Republic, a USDA-certified organic aquaponics farm aimed at sustainable agriculture, which attracted attention from developers and government entities in search of solutions for diminishing arable land.
Utilized in vertical farming, open field agriculture, greenscaping, and beyond, the Rocket 2.0 stands out as a self-sufficient irrigation system. It incorporates sensors for monitoring crop yield, soil health, and climate conditions, combined with AI and weather predictions to provide precise automated irrigation control according to a scheduled plan. The Rocket 2.0 is poised to revolutionize commercial farming practices, serving diverse sectors from landscaping and parks to community gardens and vineyards.
Its potential for scalability is aided by Full Nature Farms’ subscription-based pricing model.
“We provide farmers the chance to utilize our solution through a subscription fee ranging from $10.00 to $20.00 per month for each sensor, with no initial costs,” Lok shared with TechCrunch via email. “This approach removes barriers to entry, enabling us to offer a scalable and cost-effective smart irrigation system for farmers and operators alike.”
Full Nature Farms highlights its competitive edge through its internally developed technology ecosystem, which includes automation controllers, software solutions, LED grow lights, precise irrigation pipes, a comprehensive sensor stack, and an integrated farm management platform.
Having raised approximately $4.5 million, the startup has gained recognition in its home city of Hong Kong, where it employs advanced agtech products to grow edible flowers and microgreens for over 100 Michelin-starred restaurants and hotel groups. Full Nature Farms’ offerings—including the Eden 2.0 cultivation system, featuring sensors, LED grow lights, and automated controls—are currently being deployed across Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and the UK, with ambitions to expand into North America. At CES, the company aims to connect with 30 local partners to trial Rocket 2.0.
In particular, Rocket 1.0 has been in testing in Hong Kong since January 2024, and the startup has secured 12 projects in the city for the first quarter of 2025. Plans for pilot projects are also in place for Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, Australia, France, and China.
The introduction of Full Nature Farms’ latest agtech innovation earned the company the CES 2025 Innovation Award in the Sustainability and Energy/Power category, coinciding with a resurgence in funding for the sector after its downturn in 2023 and early 2024, according to data from PitchBook.
This article has been updated with additional details from Full Nature Farms.
Compiled by Techarena.au.
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