Agdir aims to make farmers' daily lives easier through technology
With new documentation requirements, the increasing use of technology on farms, and a growing need to integrate different systems, Agdir’s goal is clear: Digital solutions should make everyday life easier — ideally without requiring farmers to become full-time office workers.
Facts about Agdir
Established: 2017
Member of Nordic Edge since: 2023
Industry: Agritech
Where: Arendal
What: Develops digital solutions for farm management.
From a tired farmer to a digital driving force
It all started with a meeting with a tired and worn-out farmer at a business event in Grimstad. The question was simple: Can technology make day-to-day work a little easier?
The answer marked the beginning of Agdir. The company was founded in 2017, initially focused on developing sensor products. Since then, the company has shifted its focus slightly, and today Agdir is working on digital systems for farm management designed to simplify documentation and administrative tasks for farmers. Instead of using several different digital systems, or pen and paper, as many do, Agdir aims to provide a comprehensive solution in a single tool designed to simplify farmers’ daily lives.
“We tried to figure out what was already available on the market and looked at which problems we could solve. That was the starting point for launching Agdir,” says André Skoog Bondevik, CEO of Agdir Drift.
Because even though a farmer’s primary job is to run a farm, there are increasing requirements for documentation, record-keeping, and reporting. Agdir aims to make this part of the job as seamless as possible, ideally without it feeling like just another task on the to-do list.
A digital journey with some unexpected detours
It’s been an exciting journey, but at the same time, some challenges have come along the way. In March 2020, Agdir had planned a launch. Then the pandemic hit. It was a period of major upheaval, and Agdir had to adapt to a very different world.
At the same time, the company have a customer base that has been crucial to its development.
“We have a great customer base to work with. Our customers understand that development can take time, and we have a good dialogue with them,” says André.
Other external factors have also affected customers. The war between Russia and Ukraine, among other things, contributed to sharp price increases. Nevertheless, the company has continued working on what it believes is a necessary transition: moving agriculture from analog to digital work processes.
“We’re proud to have helped initiate the shift from analog to digital and to have been a driving force behind that development. Now we’re starting to see results.”
Photo: Svein Arild Frøshaug and André Skoog Bondevik, founders of Agdir Drift AS
From paperwork to streamlined management
Right now, new regulations and documentation requirements are a key part of Agdir’s work. Among other things, the company is currently working on solutions for pesticide and fertilizer logs. In short, the goal is to make it easier for farmers to keep track of what’s used on the farm and to document this in accordance with government requirements.
The goal isn’t necessarily for farmers to do more digitally. On the contrary. For Agdir, it’s about making existing requirements easier to manage.
“We want this to be as seamless as possible for our customers and not become an extra task for farmers. No farmer enjoys filling out forms and submitting reports; they want to focus on growing high-quality crops,” explains André.
This is a key part of Agdir’s approach: Technology should adapt to the day-to-day work on the farm, not the other way around.
Leveraging networks
Over time, Agdir has built up a network of partners they can draw on when needed. These may include commercial partnerships, technology providers, or other companies with expertise and solutions that can be integrated with Agdir’s own systems.
One example is the collaboration with Botanist, whose sensors will eventually become available through Agdir’s solutions. Botanist develops sensor systems for agriculture and, like Agdir, is a member of Nordic Edge’s Agritech cluster.
“It’s important to build a network you can draw on when you need it. Through the network, you can share experiences with others and ask for advice. Nordic Edge has contributed to this network-building,” says André.
Gunnar Crawford, head of the Agritech cluster, believes Agdir has a mindset that others should draw inspiration from:
“Agdir’s approach to the problem they’re solving, and the way they work through networks and collaboration, is extremely valuable. I’m proud to have them as members, and I’m delighted to see how they use the cluster as a resource,” says Crawford.
The value of the network, then, isn’t just about specific collaborations. It’s also about being able to ask others for advice, share experiences, and get help when facing challenges you haven’t solved before. For a growing company, this can be just as valuable as the technology itself.
Three questions about the journey
With André
What is one thing you would do differently if you were starting today?
– You learn along the way! But maybe don’t plan a launch during a pandemic.
Is there anything that has surprised you along the way?
– There are many external factors that you can’t control. You have to stay flexible and adapt.
What are you looking forward to in the future?
– I’m looking forward to 2027, when new regulations come into effect. They will make it unavoidable for the industry to become more digital!
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