b'PARTNER CONTENTWhat Does It Take to Innovate Seed Sorting?By: Kent LovvornT en years ago, at the American Seed Trade Associations (ASTA) Vegetable and Flower Seed Conference, a small team with big ideas set up their booth with an ambitious goal: to transform seed sorting in agriculture. Armed with an extensive background in engineering and machine vision, they wondered if the technology theyd developed would translate into a viable seed sorting solution. Flash forward to today, and VMek Sorting Technology has evolved from an idea that took root at an industry conference into a critical player reshaping how agriculture oper-ates on a global scale. In fact, approximately 80% of the corn seed in the world today has been directly or indirectly touched by VMek technology. In 2014, precision technology in seed sorting was still in its infancy. But we at VMek saw an opportunity to innovate beyond traditional limits, believing that intelligent seed sorting could rev-olutionize yields, reduce waste, and boost productivity. Our focus on transformative technology, aimed squarely at the pain points of modern agriculture, helped us gain a foothold in the industry.Today, VMek is known for creating some of the most advanced seed sorting and counting machines on the market. But this wasnt simply a matter of mechanical innovation. From the outset, VMek has approached seed sorting with a visionary mindset, see-ing it as an intersection of hardware, software, and user-centered design, allowing us to create a portfolio of machines that are not only precise but adaptable, fast, and intuitive for users in real-world agricultural settings. One of VMeks early breakthroughs was the development of a flagship sorting machine that combined an unprecedentedVMeks MX4-170 is an example of one of the most innovative seed footprint with much needed technology. For our clients, it meantsorting and counting machines on the market today.fewer impurities, optimized labor costs, and access to data. For our company, it was validation that our approach to intelligentautomation, data-driven machine learning models, and compact seed sorting was the right path forward. machinery designed to make seed sorting even more powerful Beyond the hardware, VMeks machines are built with an em- and environmentally conscious. For VMek, the next 10 years are phasis on practical impact. Agriculture is a challenging industry,about expanding our reach, refining our technology, and finding with significant pressure on producers to deliver high-quality,new ways to support agriculture as it faces unprecedented global consistent products while managing costs and minimizing envi- challenges.ronmental impact. Recognizing these challenges, VMek priori- Our journey has been powered by our clients, our partners, and tized creating high-tech machinery that offers practical solutions.an incredibly passionate team spread across the globe. Weve built This commitment to impact-driven innovation has been a guidingour reputation on trust and results, and as we celebrate our first force for the companyand its why were doubling down ondecade, we want to recognize the people who have been integral agriculture. to our success. From the industry leaders who believed in our As VMek marks its 10th anniversary, were celebrating morevision to the engineers who brought that vision to life, VMeks ac-than just the passage of time. It represents our continued com- complishments are a collaborative effort.mitment to innovation. Were proud to have a role in helping theI am incredibly proud of our first decade, but this is only the industry move toward a more efficient, sustainable future.beginning. With a robust foundation and a clear vision for the As we look forward, were focused on continuing to adapt tofuture, VMek is ready to keep redefining whats possible in seed the rapidly shifting needs of our clients. VMeks research andsortingand ultimately, to continue supporting the agricultural development team is exploring new capabilities, such as advancedsector in producing the food that feeds the world.DECEMBER 2024SEEDWORLD.COM /33'