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By Agroempresario.com
Oishii, a leading vertical farming company renowned for its premium strawberries and tomatoes, has acquired the key intellectual property (IP), assets, and engineering team of Tortuga AgTech, a robotics startup that specializes in harvesting automation. Although the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, the acquisition marks a strategic move for Oishii as it looks to advance its technological capabilities and scale its automated farming operations.
Tortuga AgTech, based in Colorado, has garnered attention for its innovative robots that harvest strawberries, table grapes, and other berries, in addition to performing various tasks such as trimming plants and applying UV-C light treatments. The company has deployed its technology in commercial farming operations, building a fleet of 150 robots for strawberry picking, making it a leading player in agricultural robotics.
Oishii's decision to acquire Tortuga AgTech's technology and team stems from its commitment to staying at the forefront of agricultural innovation. According to Oishii cofounder and COO, Brendan Somerville, the company has been closely monitoring Tortuga’s progress over the years and recognized the value in its advanced harvesting robots. Somerville emphasized that the primary motivation behind the acquisition was to build stronger infrastructure and accelerate Oishii’s growth in automated farming.
“We have known the Oishii team for years, but began partnering this past fall to apply our technology in Oishii’s farm units,” said Eric Adamson, CEO and cofounder of Tortuga AgTech. Adamson explained that Oishii’s ethos and vision for the future aligned well with Tortuga’s technology, making the company an ideal fit for the next stage of development. He noted that the partnership offers "the best fit for creating the most immediate and valuable opportunities for all parties involved."
Tortuga’s acquisition follows a significant downturn in agritech venture capital, prompting the company to seek a strategic partner with the necessary resources and vision to bring its technology to market.
Oishii has long been an advocate for automation and has developed its own robotic systems to improve the efficiency and precision of its vertical farming operations. The company currently utilizes robotics to detect the ripeness of strawberries before harvesting them, enhancing the quality and consistency of its products. With this new acquisition, Oishii will integrate Tortuga’s advanced harvesting robots, AI models, and frontier robotics software into its existing system, further boosting the efficiency and scalability of its operations.
The advanced robotics from Tortuga AgTech are expected to significantly reduce labor costs by automating the most difficult task on the farm: harvesting. Oishii claims that with the integration of Tortuga’s technology, its robots will be able to “surpass human farmers in the picking” of strawberries and reduce harvest expenses by up to 50%. This is a significant achievement in a sector where automation has proven challenging, especially in tasks such as harvesting delicate crops like strawberries.
Tortuga’s robots are capable of not only harvesting fruit but also collecting valuable data from plants, which helps optimize farming conditions by adjusting environmental variables such as light, temperature, and wind speed. These capabilities will complement Oishii’s existing automation infrastructure and further enhance its ability to produce high-quality crops at scale.
In addition to acquiring Tortuga AgTech’s technology, Oishii has welcomed key members of Tortuga’s engineering team to join forces with its own. The integration of these experts will help accelerate innovation and improve the functionality of Oishii’s robotic systems. Oishii’s commitment to building a world-class engineering team is clear, and the addition of Tortuga’s talent will play a crucial role in the company’s continued growth.
Tortuga’s Adamson expressed enthusiasm for the future of the partnership, stating, “Oishii’s strong vision, industry leadership, and success in fundraising give Tortuga’s technology the best chance for industry-changing success.”
For now, Oishii’s primary focus is on integrating Tortuga’s technology into its existing facilities and technical roadmap. Both teams are already collaborating closely to ensure the seamless deployment of the new systems. While Oishii is tight-lipped about specific plans for future innovations, Adamson hinted that there are more exciting developments in the pipeline for harvesting robots.
As the company moves forward, the goal will be to further accelerate the adoption of automated farming practices, creating more efficient and cost-effective solutions for the agriculture industry. Oishii’s focus on robotics, combined with its commitment to sustainability, positions it well for continued success in the competitive vertical farming market.
