Irrigation-efficiency startup wins annual UNR Sontag business plan competition

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Irrigation-efficiency startup wins annual UNR Sontag business plan competition

A startup company that is developing more efficient ways to irrigate agricultural fields won the University of Nevada, Reno's annual Sontag Entrepreneurship Competition today.

Irrigo won $50,000 for its business plan using flood gate automation, field surveys, and water and soil sensors connected to via the internet.

"Water is a precious resource," Irrigo team leader Brian Blair said in a press release. "Irrigo's intent is to save 20 percent of the water currently used through irrigation in the Western United States. Irrigo will provide efficiencies to the farmer as a leased service, through which the farmer can realize immediate savings in labor and increased crop yield through greater acreage under irrigation."

Wasted Eyewear, founded by UNR freshman Julian Sander, won second place and received $5,000. Sander's goal is to make sunglasses out of recycled and reused material, mainly old snowboards.

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