“Those innovators that are directly linked to the farmer and to the customer are the ones that are going to win.”
FIRA attendees agreed that ag robotics and automation will create more jobs for the industry, and typically better ones, too.
Series D funding will go to a few different areas, including expanding availability of the LaserWeeder into new geographies.
Farm automation faces a trust and manufacturing barrier that investment money alone cannot overcome.
Ahead of FIRA USA, agtech experts weigh in on the state of investment in ag robotics and automation, and what to do next.
If lawmakers are genuinely concerned about security, says DJI, they should develop technology-based data security standards that all drone operators and manufacturers must follow, regardless of their country of origin.
Grain Weevil says its robot can make storing grain more efficient while keeping farmers out of grain bins and saving lives in the process.
“Our goal is to become the epicenter for unmanned aerial systems in the agricultural space,” says Kelly Hills CEO Lukas Koch.
There’s a lot more to autonomy than autonomy.
Funding will enable Applied Carbon to deploy a fleet of biochar machines across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
A list of the top seven farm robotics deals so far in 2024, with a bonus look at the most interesting seed stage investments.
Funding will go towards developing new AI capabilities as well as expanding the Monarch Tractor brand in the US and globally.
Ag spray drone distributors have formed a coalition to urge lawmakers to reconsider plans to restrict the US activities of Chinese drone maker DJI Technologies and say alternative approaches could address potential security concerns.
After experiments with Amy’s Kitchen, Chef Bombay, and Sunbasket, Chef Robotics’ technology is being rolled out across North America.
Plus… Nestlé enters ‘blended meat’ space, Ahimsa acquires Good Catch alt-seafood production facility from Gathered Foods, and study probes ‘unexplored’ subsoil.
The partnership will see Bluewhite’s autonomous technology on New Holland tractors in specialty crop farming operations.
“If we had American-made drones using American-made parts with American-made software that were as affordable and as good as DJI, we wouldn’t have an issue,” says Russell Hedrick. “But right now, they don’t exist.”
Proposed legislation targeting Chinese drone maker DJI Technologies could have a devastating effect on US agriculture, claim firms supplying the drones to farmers.
Niqo will use new funding to expand its spot-spraying tech across India and into horticulture markets around the world.
Carbon Robotics will use the investment to expand development and distribution of its LaserWeeder machines in speciality crops.
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