St. Louis startup Agrela Ecosystems, which has created a hardware system to collect environmental data, has begun commercializing its device after years of research and development.
The startup has started a pilot launch of its system with plans for full commercialization in 2025, if not sooner, said Agrela President Bill Kezele. Agrela, as part of its pilot launch, says it has signed on several customers and has started generating revenue.
Founded in 2016 by Donald Danforth Plant Science Center scientists, including Nadia Shakoor, Agrela has developed a hardware system, called PheNode, that it describes as an environmental sensor platform that can collect data relevant to its users. The PheNode was initially conceptualized for agriculture research, but its applicability has expanded to other industries, including geospatial research, sustainability and smart infrastructure. Kezele, Shakoor and Todd Mockler co-invented Agrela’s technology.
Agrela said its PheNode system has several users, including the Danforth Center, St. Louis-based Taylor Geospatial Institute and Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego. Agrela has also had three PheNode deployed in Georgia as part of The Ray, a smart highway project. The startup said it has generated $250,000 in revenue through sales of its PheNode system and services related to the device. READ MORE