December 2023 - 68

AGTECH
Field demos and sessions were a key
part of FIRA USA, which brought ag
robotics industry and growers together
Sept. 19-21 in Salinas, California.
Photos by Doug Ohlemeier.
Autonomous tech
invades the 'Salad Bowl'
Growers, AgTech tackle mainstreaming automation
at FIRA USA
BY DOUG OHLEMEIER
ASSISTANT EDITOR
THIS EVENT IS DIFFERENT
D
espite a limited number of robots and automated
machines being deployed in some grower fields,
more buy-in is needed by venture capital (VC) firms
that fund AgTech products.
The challenge of making robotics and smart machinery
more mainstream was a key part of discussions at the
Sept. 19-21 FIRA USA meeting in Salinas, California.
" This event is different from what would be in San
Francisco, " said Gabriel Youtsey, chief innovation officer
for the University of California's Division of Agriculture
and Natural Resources. " We wanted to do this event
where the growers are, where farmers farm and food
actually grows. "
Inside the Salinas Sports Complex, growers and
tech purveyors discussed AgTech. Outside, companies
parked machinery in front of exhibitor tents while
demonstrations in vegetable fields showed growers
equipment working in real time.
" It's great to see the continuing development of robots
from the year before, " said Steven Saunders, CEO and
68 | DECEMBER 2023
FROM WHAT WOULD BE IN SAN
FRANCISCO. WE WANTED TO DO
THIS EVENT WHERE THE GROWERS
ARE, WHERE FARMERS FARM AND
FOOD ACTUALLY GROWS.
- Gabriel Youtsey, University of California,
Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
founder of Robotics Plus, a New Zealand based robotics,
AI and autonomous machines designer and provider.
" It's great to see the community here and hear the good
session talks. "
From tech designers and manufacturers to growers
large and small, the show brought everyone in the AgTech
sphere to one place, known as the Salad Bowl of the World.
" The soul of the FIRA event is to gather all the ag
robotics industry key players to work together and get a

December 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2023

Editor's Letter
Watermelon Pressures
Battling food insecurities
40 Under 40 Class of 2023
Michigan Vegetable Council's proactive approach
2023: Year in review
Great Lakes EXPO News: Mastering pest management
Great Lakes EXPO News: Stop the Rot project
2024 Buyers' Guide
Consider automatic irrigation control systems
Autonomous tech invades the 'salad bowl'
Robotic risk
Robots perform field work
Cover crop mixes
Farm Market & Agritourism: Revolutionize customer relationships
Ag Labor Review: DOL's end run
Business: Effective succession planning
Classifieds
Advertiser Index
December 2023 - 1
December 2023 - 2
December 2023 - 3
December 2023 - Editor's Letter
December 2023 - 5
December 2023 - Watermelon Pressures
December 2023 - 7
December 2023 - 8
December 2023 - 9
December 2023 - 10
December 2023 - 11
December 2023 - Battling food insecurities
December 2023 - 13
December 2023 - 14
December 2023 - 15
December 2023 - 16
December 2023 - 40 Under 40 Class of 2023
December 2023 - 18
December 2023 - 19
December 2023 - 20
December 2023 - 21
December 2023 - 22
December 2023 - 23
December 2023 - 24
December 2023 - 25
December 2023 - 26
December 2023 - 27
December 2023 - 28
December 2023 - 29
December 2023 - Michigan Vegetable Council's proactive approach
December 2023 - 31
December 2023 - 32
December 2023 - 33
December 2023 - 2023: Year in review
December 2023 - 35
December 2023 - 36
December 2023 - 37
December 2023 - Great Lakes EXPO News: Mastering pest management
December 2023 - 39
December 2023 - 40
December 2023 - Great Lakes EXPO News: Stop the Rot project
December 2023 - 42
December 2023 - 2024 Buyers' Guide
December 2023 - 44
December 2023 - 45
December 2023 - 46
December 2023 - 47
December 2023 - 48
December 2023 - 49
December 2023 - 50
December 2023 - 51
December 2023 - 52
December 2023 - 53
December 2023 - 54
December 2023 - 55
December 2023 - 56
December 2023 - 57
December 2023 - 58
December 2023 - 59
December 2023 - 60
December 2023 - 61
December 2023 - 62
December 2023 - 63
December 2023 - 64
December 2023 - 65
December 2023 - 66
December 2023 - Consider automatic irrigation control systems
December 2023 - Autonomous tech invades the 'salad bowl'
December 2023 - 69
December 2023 - 70
December 2023 - 71
December 2023 - Robotic risk
December 2023 - 73
December 2023 - 74
December 2023 - 75
December 2023 - Robots perform field work
December 2023 - 77
December 2023 - 78
December 2023 - 79
December 2023 - Cover crop mixes
December 2023 - 81
December 2023 - Farm Market & Agritourism: Revolutionize customer relationships
December 2023 - 83
December 2023 - Ag Labor Review: DOL's end run
December 2023 - 85
December 2023 - Business: Effective succession planning
December 2023 - 87
December 2023 - Classifieds
December 2023 - 89
December 2023 - Advertiser Index
December 2023 - 91
December 2023 - 92
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