Vancouver-based Almanac, a firm specializing in farm data analytics and precision agriculture, has made a significant move in the agtech landscape by acquiring the intellectual property and assets of Gro Intelligence, an ag intelligence platform that ceased operations earlier this year due to financial difficulties. This acquisition comes as a strategic step for Almanac, formerly known as Semios, which has been on a growth trajectory through a series of targeted acquisitions aimed at enhancing its core crop management platform.
Under the leadership of newly appointed CEO Sumer Johal, who took the helm in October 2023, Almanac has been actively expanding its capabilities. The firm has previously acquired several companies, including AgWorld, Altrac, and Centricity, to bolster its offerings in farm management software, ag automation, and field data collection technology. With the addition of Gro Intelligence’s assets, which include valuable AI models and data sets, Almanac aims to enhance its existing services that already provide real-time climate, pest, and water data through a vast network of over 500,000 sensors deployed across more than 130 million acres globally.
Johal emphasized the importance of integrating public data with private data to create a more comprehensive service for stakeholders in the agriculture sector. “Our core stakeholders have been using us for their private data sets, their planning, their compliance, and more. The added layer from Gro will provide agronomically relevant public data that can enhance our current offerings,” he explained. The acquisition was executed through an auction, allowing Almanac to secure the brand name, customer contacts, and data sets without inheriting Gro’s liabilities.
The integration of Gro’s AI-powered data platform is expected to significantly increase Almanac’s ability to deliver actionable insights to agricultural professionals. Johal noted that the first priority will be to focus on the existing use cases that align with their current customer base, while also exploring new opportunities in areas such as consumer packaged goods (CPG), agriculture finance, and food security—domains that Gro had previously served, with Unilever being one of its largest clients.
Despite the potential for expansion into new sectors, Johal stressed that Almanac will maintain its focus on resolving the challenges faced by its core customers. “We didn’t acquire Gro for its customer base; we acquired it for its data sets and models,” he stated. The firm aims to engage with Gro’s existing customers who may be interested in revitalizing their use of the platform, ensuring that they do not repeat the mistakes of Gro’s previous management.
The acquisition also aligns with Almanac’s recent rebranding from Semios, a move intended to clarify its offerings and unify its customer base’s understanding of its value proposition. Johal remarked that the rebrand was necessary as many customers were unaware of the diverse brands under the Semios umbrella. “We wanted to simplify our customer base’s understanding of our product offering and the value we create for them,” he said.
Almanac’s regional focus remains on North America and Australia, with plans for opportunistic growth in Europe, Africa, and potentially South America and Asia. The firm serves a broad range of customers, including growers, agricultural advisors, input providers, and water companies, but has yet to delve deeply into supply chain dynamics.
Founded in 2012 by Sara Menker, Gro Intelligence was known for its AI-driven insights and analytics, catering to a diverse clientele that included food and agriculture companies, governments, and financial institutions. The firm had developed a robust climate data platform, combining various data sources to deliver actionable insights for crop yield predictions and other agricultural decisions.
By integrating Gro Intelligence’s capabilities, Almanac is poised to revolutionize agricultural practices through advanced technology, offering enhanced data-driven solutions that promote sustainability and productivity in the sector.