Verdant Robotics digitizes the farm down to the millimeter level

Verdant Robotics
Verdant Robotics indexes the farm the way Google indexes the internet, uniquely tracking each plant over space and time to enable real-time decision making only possible with computation. | Credit: Verdant

Verdant was founded in late 2018 by a leading roboticist, a software engineer and a California farmer. The company has raised $21.5 million to develop the industry’s first multi-action, autonomous farm-robot capable of millimeter-accurate spraying, laser weeding and AI-based digital crop modeling.

Together with farming partners, Verdant uses these tools to deliver better outcomes: larger produce, greater yields and significant savings.

Early customers in carrot farming

Verdant has already contracted to service approximately 40% of the U.S. carrot market exclusively for the next five years and is currently scaling to meet the needs of the U.S. multi-billion-dollar fruit and vegetable industry.

“Farmers told us not to give them more data, but to figure out what to do with the mountains of data they already have, or better yet just go do it,” said Gabe Sibley, PhD., co-founder and CEO, who brings more than 20 years of experience in geo-spatial computation and AI. “They want a complete solution that takes action in real-time and keeps farmers in control – all while improving profitability and automating dangerous, back-breaking field work.”

Sustainability, profitability driving interest in farm robotics

Investment into farm robotics as an enhancement to labor, profitability and sustainability has been building for years. Agricultural robotic startups brought in $491 million in investment during the first half of 2021, a 40% increase over the same period in 2020, according to AgFunder, but to-date, actual on-farm robotics has mostly been on a trial basis.

Following successful large-scale roll-out over the past 18 months, Verdant logged thousands of hours in 2021 and is already proven on multiple crops. “Today, Verdant machines are in the field all-day, every-day helping farmers achieve superhuman efficacy,” said Sibley.

Combining multiple technologies, the company’s 6-row and 12-row commercial implements can treat up to 4.2 acres per hour, achieving a higher weed-removal rate per acre than other technology or human ability, and reducing chemical usage by up to 95%. Simultaneously, its autonomous software system collects data and uses machine learning capabilities to optimize yield and growing outcomes, ultimately unlocking new revenues to help farmers reach profitability and sustainability goals.

“Verdant Robotics’ ability to digitize the farm enables precision technology at a level never before possible for specialty crops, removing the choice between environmental stewardship and profitability,” said Cannon Michael, a sixth-generation California farmer and CEO of Bowles Farming Company. “With the unique combination of automation and insight, farmers can collectively manage precious resources – like water – while maintaining or improving yields.”

RaaS delivers AI, robotics and science to farms of all sizes

Verdant’s computational robotic and autonomous software systems combine decades of advancements in scientific fields – including computer vision, artificial intelligence, robotics, GPS-denied navigation, chemistry and soil and plant sciences – to achieve the next generation of crop production.

The company is delivering all of this data to farmers in a robots as a service (RaaS) business model. This enable Verdant to not only enhance the solution in real-time as new capabilities are developed, but it also means that it can learn in real-time as customers use the solution.

Verdant Robotics multi-action farm robot for specialty crops

“Verdant’s platform stands apart due to its integrated software and hardware that is applicable across a variety of high value crops,” said Steve Jurvetson, co-founder of Future Ventures and early investor into Verdant Robotics. “Drawing on expertise from Google X, NASA and several autonomous vehicle companies, the team has quickly delivered solid technology that ensures a growth path capable of addressing the global $8 trillion food and agriculture market and positions them well to meet the needs of farmers in adjacent markets and geographies.”

“Together with their customers, Verdant is driving a shift in agriculture akin to the transformation we’ve seen in aerospace and automotive when computation is brought to bear,” Jurvetson said.

Verdant leveraged investments from leading agriculture investors, including AgFunder, Autotech Ventures, Cavallo Ventures, DCVC Bio, and Future Ventures, among others. Building upon these investments, the company is expanding its platform with plans to commercialize a precision multi-action machine for orchards by 2023 – delivering another first for the specialty crop industry.

Over the next several years, Verdant Robotics aims to deliver complete robotics solutions globally to help improve the quality, profitability and stewardship of important food crops and thereby feed growing populations more sustainably and nutritiously.

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Written by

Mike Oitzman

Mike Oitzman is Senior Editor of WTWH's Robotics Group, cohost of The Robot Report Podcast, and founder of the Mobile Robot Guide. Oitzman is a robotics industry veteran with 25-plus years of experience at various high-tech companies in the roles of marketing, sales and product management. He can be reached at moitzman@wtwhmedia.com.