Faromatics

Faromatics, legally known as Farm Robotics and Automation S.L., is a precision livestock farming company based in Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain. The company was established in June 2016 by five researchers in precision smart farming. The founding team included individuals with diverse expertise, such as CEO Dr. Heiner Lehr, who holds a Ph.D. in Natural Sciences and has a background in the agriculture and livestock field, and CFO Francois Stock, an experienced financial professional in the startup and multinational corporate sectors. The company originated from a European Union-funded research project.

The core of Faromatics' business is the 'ChickenBoy' robot, a ceiling-suspended system designed for monitoring large-scale broiler chicken farms. This system operates 24/7, utilizing an array of sensors to collect data on environmental conditions like thermal sensation, air quality, humidity, carbon dioxide levels, light, and sound. It employs artificial intelligence and deep learning to analyze this data, identifying potential risks to animal health and welfare, as well as detecting equipment malfunctions such as broken drinkers. A notable feature is its manure analysis capability, which uses spectral analysis to assess droppings for signs of enteric diseases. Farmers, veterinarians, and stock personnel can access the collected information and receive alerts through a secure cloud platform and mobile notifications.

The business model is centered on providing a tool that helps farmers improve operational efficiency and animal welfare, which in turn can enhance profitability. The target clients are large, vertically integrated poultry producers who manage the entire lifecycle from chick supply to slaughter and commercialization. Faromatics' journey began with a ground-based prototype, which was later redesigned to a ceiling-suspended model to avoid disrupting the birds. The company gained significant recognition, winning several awards, including the Smart Agrifood Summit prize in Malaga and the Participant Startup Europea Award. After securing initial funding from its founders, an angel investor, and strategic corporate investors, Faromatics was acquired by AGCO, a global manufacturer of agricultural machinery, in September 2021. This acquisition was aimed at integrating Faromatics' smart technology into AGCO's broader portfolio of farming solutions to enhance profitability and animal welfare for livestock producers.

Keywords: precision livestock farming, poultry monitoring, ChickenBoy robot, animal welfare technology, broiler farm automation, AI in agriculture, farm robotics, livestock health monitoring, environmental sensors, manure analysis, smart farming solutions, AgTech, poultry technology, automated farm management, cloud-based farm data, AGCO acquisition, Heiner Lehr, poultry disease detection, livestock data analytics, agricultural robotics