2022 SPECIALTY CROP AUTOMATION REPORT
6.6 START-UP PERFORMANCE PER ACTIVITY LINE
This section gives some standout examples of start- ups making an impact within each specialty crop automation activity. The most advanced activities in terms of automation are listed first. Weeding and thinning: Weeding and thinning automation technology is the activity that has advanced the most since last year’s inaugural report. This has been driven largely by increased performance and the ability to generate cost savings for growers. Weeding robots have many benefits compared to human labor. These include significant reductions of chemical usage by
being able to apply tailored amounts of herbicide directly to weeds without applying it to crops. Other start-ups are experimenting with novel technologies, such as lasers, which target and destroy weeds. As shown in Figure 46, several start-ups have received notable market traction within weeding and thinning, with the innovation leaders being FarmWise, Naïo Technologies (see Figure 47), Verdant Robotics (see Figure 48), Carbon Robotics, Agro Intelligence and Stout AgTech.
SEVERAL DIFFERENT WEEDING AND THINNING TECHNOLOGIES ARE COMMERCIALIZING IN PARALLEL AND GAINING TRACTION
Key market traction metrics, leading weeding & thinning focused start-ups
KEY MARKET TRACTION METRICS
Hq Location
Business Model
Tech
Implement vs. Full Tractor Full Tractor 1
Funding Received ($M)
# of Paying Customers
# of Robots in Service
Service
Weeding arm
65
20+
14
Service / Sales
Weeding arm
Full Tractor
53
20+
350+
Service
Precision spraying
Implement
46.5
6-10
3
Sales
Laser
Implement
36
20+
20
Sales
Laser
Full tractor
17
20+
40+
Sales
Weeding- arm
Implement
n.d.
20+
40+
Source: Start-up survey, Western Growers, Roland Berger
1) Currently offers a full tractor but is working on an implement offering Figure 46: Key market traction metrics, leading weeding/thinning focused start-ups
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