Verdant Robotics has launched a platform that combines data analytics and crop applications such as spraying and weeding into a single farming implement for specialty crop farmers. The company says its tool delivers better outcomes for those farmers, from bigger yields and cost savings to a better view overall of what’s happening on the farm.
Hayward, California-based Verdant was founded in 2018 and, over the last 18 months, has rolled out its product to farms of various sizes across the US. It is contracted to service roughly 40% of the US carrot market exclusively for the next five years, according to co-founder and CEO Gabe Sibley.
Sibley also names plums, cherries, apples, onions, garlic, and peaches as just a few other crops the Verdant system works with.
To date, Verdant has raised $21.5 million from AgFunder, Autotech Ventures, Cavallo Ventures, DCVC Bio, and Future Ventures, among others. Building on its rollout across several US farms, the company plans to partner with more growers in the immediate future while also commercializing a version of its system for orchard crops in 2023.
‘Multi-action’ technology
Verdant’s “robotics-as-a-service” model, as the company calls it, combines computer vision, GPS navigation, artificial intelligence, and soil and plant sciences. It claims that its major differentiator is its ability to execute multiple tasks from the same machine – what the company calls “multi-action” technology. Right now that includes high-speed weed removal and chemical application.
A Verdant Robotics multi-action farm robot attached to a tractor. Image credit: Verdant Robotics
This is fairly unique amongst today’s pick of farm robotics offerings, Sibley claims, since most only perform a single task. Of notable farm robotics deals last year, one was for a rock-picking machine, one for a harvesting bot, and one for a weeding system. In theory, at least, this could give Verdant a competitive edge in the ag robotics market, which is still in its early days in terms of adoption.
Source: agfundernews.com
