Instacrops' AI Technology Promises 30% Water Savings for Farmers at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
Chilean startup Instacrops is revolutionizing agriculture with AI-driven irrigation systems that help farms reduce water consumption by 30% while increasing crop yields by 20%. The company, which pivoted from IoT sensors to AI software, will demonstrate its water-saving technology at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 in San Francisco.
The Water Crisis in Agriculture
Agriculture consumes 70% of global freshwater, with some countries like India and Chile using over 90% of their water resources for farming. For Mario Bustamante, founder of Instacrops and a Chilean resident, this water scarcity hits close to home. His startup addresses this critical challenge by leveraging AI to optimize irrigation systems, helping farmers dramatically reduce water consumption while maintaining or even increasing crop productivity.
From IoT Hardware to AI Software
Instacrops began as an IoT sensor company focused on frost detection for farms but pivoted to AI-driven irrigation optimization as hardware became commoditized. This strategic shift transformed the company's operations, allowing it to process 15 million data points per hour—equivalent to what they handled annually a decade ago. The AI models analyze over 80 parameters including soil moisture, humidity, temperature, pressure, crop yields, and NDVI satellite imagery to provide precise irrigation recommendations.
Proven Results Across Latin America
Currently serving 260 farms, Instacrops has demonstrated impressive results: up to 30% reduction in water usage and up to 20% increase in crop yields. The company focuses on high-value crops in Latin America, including apples, avocados, blueberries, almonds, and cherries. Farmers receive irrigation advisories through mobile apps or WhatsApp integration, with Bustamante predicting a complete shift to WhatsApp due to its universal adoption among farmers.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 Showcase
As part of the Startup Battlefield at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Instacrops will demonstrate its water-saving technology to an audience of tech leaders and investors in San Francisco from October 27-29. The Y Combinator Summer 2021 alumni company has received backing from SVG Ventures and Genesis Ventures, positioning itself at the forefront of agricultural technology innovation addressing one of farming's most pressing challenges.