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Dramm and Ketos work with farmers on ground water quality monitoring

San Francisco – Agriculture company Dramm Corporation will use Ketos water-monitoring systems to provide growers with key water data to help enhance crop yield, quality and taste.

“With agriculture’s reliance on ground water steadily rising, water quality and food safety must go hand-in-hand. Food quality and food safety needs to start at the source – the water used to grow the crops,” said Ketos CEO Meena Sankaran. “By partnering with Dramm to provide growers an easy way to actively monitor and measure possible water pollutants in real-time, Ketos is helping accelerate data-driven farming by providing actionable insights that can enhance crop yield. Ultimately, our common goal is to enable the delivery of safer food by creating a thriving food supply chain.”

According to the USDA, agriculture accounts for approximately 80 per cent of U.S. ground and surface water consumption. However, many growers do not know what is in the water they are using at any given moment, said a joint news release. Dramm will use the Ketos Shield technology to proactively test and monitor for potential contaminants and verify the quality and safety of the irrigation water supply for its customers. Ketos provides continuous, lab-precision testing data and serves as an advanced warning system for growers if heavy-metal compounds or contaminants are present – including arsenic, boron, nitrates, and other elements that could diminish crop yield or pose a food security threat, the release said.

“Water is at the root of our agricultural ecosystem, and our growers are eager to verify the quality of their water more regularly,” said Kurt Becker, executive vice-president of Dramm.

The initial phase of the partnership between Ketos and Dramm will focus on water quality solutions for horticulture, ornamentals and greenhouse specialty crops. Dramm will test the Ketos Shield technology at various North American greenhouses. During these trials, Dramm will work with various facilities with vegetable, ornamental and medicinal crops to identify the specific needs of these customers and showcase the impact that real-time water quality data can have on their crops.