UPDATES FROM THE WGCIT The Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology was created to link Western Growers members with innovators in the agtech space. Below are news updates from the Center’s startups:
This past month, Adaviv visited the Salinas region with Western Growers Association to connect directly with local growers. We shared how our solutions—already proven in the USA and Latin America—can help improve outcomes in the field. One key takeaway: Growers valued our real-time feedback on fruit quality during harvest. It can support tomato and berry growers by improving product quality, reducing waste and enabling fair, performance-based incentives for field workers. It’s not just about doing more with less—it’s about doing more and better with less. We’re now working across the produce and berry value chain to enhance visibility and support more accurate harvest quality assessments, ultimately helping improve traceability across the industry. Agtools has been recognized as a top innovator in the FoodTech sector, ranking 88th in the 2024 FoodTech 500 Landscape. Agtools was selected from among many companies competing globally, representing over 50 countries - a testament to its leadership position. Recently, Agtools was invited to participate as a panelist at the National Association of District Export Councils Department of Commerce Annual Conference in Washington D.C., “Agriculture Exports: Shifts in Composition and Destinations,” where it validated the importance of real-time data for staying competitive in U.S. agriculture exports. Carbon Robotics is the leader in AI-powered farming, delivering advanced products that solve agriculture’s toughest challenges using computer vision, deep learning and robotics. Building on the momentum of its next-generation LaserWeeder™ G2 launch in February, Carbon introduced the Carbon AutoTractor on March 31, the industry’s most dependable tractor autonomy solution. AutoTractor combines the Carbon Autonomy Kit and Remote Operations Control Center to enable 24/7 remote supervision and control of tasks, including laser weeding, tilling, mowing, cultivating and more. Initially available on existing John Deere 6R and 8R series tractors, Carbon Robotics will be expanding compatible tractor models and supported geographies throughout the year. The LaserWeeder G2 is available in sizes that range from 6.6 to 60 feet and can reduce weed control costs by up to 80 percent. From the world’s most precise weed control with LaserWeeder™ to production- ready tractor autonomy with AutoTractor, Carbon Robotics is committed to farmers’ success in making their operations more profitable and sustainable. HeavyConnect, a leader in digital compliance and operational solutions for agriculture, has announced a strategic partnership with Starfish, a collaborative data-sharing network that enables food companies to exchange critical traceability and operational information with their supply chain partners. The partnership streamlines dataflow across the supply chain, connecting producers, processors and retailers through improved visibility and integration. Beyond supporting regulatory initiatives like the FDA’s FSMA 204 traceability rule, the collaboration is designed to help the food industry build a more connected and resilient supply chain. This partnership is designed to address one of the most persistent challenges in the food industry: fragmented and inefficient data-sharing across complex supply chains. By integrating HeavyConnect’s mobile-first data collection platform with Starfish’s interoperable network, food producers, processors and suppliers will be able to connect more easily, without the need for costly, custom-built integrations or major system overhauls. This partnership marks a significant step toward a future where interoperability and collaboration are no longer obstacles, but core strengths of the food industry. By closing the data gaps between supply chain partners, the joint solution empowers businesses to drive better decisions around product safety, quality and freshness. For more information about this partnership, visit www.heavyconnect.com and www.starfish-network.com.
Adaviv
Agtools
Carbon Robotics
HeavyConnect
34 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com May | June 2025
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