Soja: ROSARIO
$311.500 1.14%
Maíz: ROSARIO
$213.000 0.95%
Trigo: ROSARIO
$224.000 -0.22%
By Agroempresario.com
The farm robotics industry continues to innovate and grow in 2024, despite a challenging fundraising environment. In the first half of the year, the sector, categorized by AgFunder as Farm Robotics, Mechanization, and Equipment, raised nearly $399 million, a decline of 21.1% from $505.5 million in the same period of 2023. This decrease aligns with broader investment trends across agrifoodtech, which saw a 12.5% drop in funding.
Nevertheless, the increasing adoption of automation among growers, driven by rising labor costs and workforce shortages, provides a bright spot. A survey by the Western Growers Association revealed that around 70% of growers invested in automation in 2022, with average annual spending rising to $450,000–$500,000, a 25% increase from the previous year.
Farm robotics companies are focusing on key tasks such as weeding, planting, and thinning. Notable startups like Stout, Carbon Robotics, Verdant Robotics, Farmwise, and Aigen are gaining traction and expanding their market presence. Advances in sensors, machine learning, and AI vision are expected to further enhance the range of tasks robots can handle.
On July 22, Monarch Tractor secured $133 million in Series C funding to expand its all-electric autonomous tractors. The round, co-led by Astanor and the HH-CTBC Partnership, also saw participation from At One Ventures, PMV, and the Welvaartsfonds. Monarch’s MK-V tractor, equipped with the WingspanAI platform, offers remote control, automated operations planning, and performance diagnostics.
Carbon Robotics raised $85 million on May 7 in a Series C round led by NVentures, Nvidia’s venture capital arm. The company’s laser-weeding technology uses AI to identify, weed, and thin crops while reducing herbicide use and labor costs. Its flagship product, the autonomous LaserWeeder, also includes a tractor-pulled version.
Bluewhite Robotics, which raised $39 million on January 23 in a Series C round, integrates automation into tractors with its end-to-end platform for fleet and data management. Backed by Insight Venture Partners, Peregrine Ventures, Entree Capital, and others, Bluewhite’s system allows farmers to remotely manage various tasks and improve farm efficiency.
On January 9, Burro raised $24 million in Series B funding led by S2G Ventures and other investors. The company’s “robotic donkeys” are self-driving carts designed to autonomously transport cargo on farms, alleviating manual labor and enabling workers to focus on more valuable tasks.
Greeneye Technology secured $20 million on April 17 in a Series B round led by Deep Insight and other investors. The company uses AI for precise and selective pest control, transforming traditional spraying methods with a system that turns any sprayer into a smart machine.
TerraClear raised $15.3 million on April 1 in a Series A round led by Madrona Venture Group. The company offers an automated rock-picking and soil-mapping solution, combining smart sensing, machine learning, and robotics to streamline soil preparation.
Dendra Systems obtained $15 million on May 8 in a Series B round from Airbus Ventures and other backers. The company focuses on reforestation and ecosystem restoration using machine learning, data analytics, and drone-based automation for mapping and seeding.
Neatleaf raised $4 million on January 23 in a seed round led by AgFunder. The startup’s Spyder robot monitors indoor crops with various sensors, aiming to enhance cultivation efficiency and sustainability.
Grain Weevil secured $3.5 million on May 1 for its robot designed to address challenges in grain bin maintenance. The robot helps manage crusts and bridges, improving safety and efficiency in grain extraction.
AutoNxt raised $3 million on April 4 in a seed deal to develop India’s first electric, self-driving tractor. The company aims to revolutionize tractor use in India with new leasing and distribution models.
Orbiba Robotics obtained $220,000 on January 26 in a seed round to create affordable AI-driven robots for organic agriculture. The company focuses on minimal carbon footprints and renewable energy solutions.
Sayetech raised $100,000 on May 14 in a seed round led by AgFunder. The company designs smart agricultural machinery tailored to African conditions, providing both products and services, along with training.
These investments highlight the ongoing evolution in farm robotics, underscoring a trend towards increased automation and efficiency in agriculture.
