Bonsai Robotics Raises $15M to Revolutionize Farming with AI Harvesting Tech

In a significant boost for agricultural technology, Bonsai Robotics has secured $15 million in funding to advance its automated harvesting solutions. The San Jose-based startup, known for its Visionsteer system, uses artificial intelligence to enable existing farm equipment to operate autonomously. This latest investment will be pivotal in enhancing Bonsai’s software, expanding its AI platform and data set, and accelerating the deployment of its products to the market. The funding round was spearheaded by Bison Ventures, with contributions from Cibus Capital, Acre Venture Partners, and other investors. The implications are vast, especially for the agricultural sector facing labor shortages. Bonsai’s technology could revolutionize farming by making harvesting more efficient and less reliant on human labor, which is especially pertinent in regions with severe labor shortages and aging farming populations.

Meanwhile, CH4 Global has begun large-scale production of its methane-reducing cattle feed additive, marking a significant milestone in the fight against climate change. The company’s innovative approach involves cultivating red seaweed in ponds, a method that offers substantial cost savings and reduced risks compared to ocean harvesting or indoor tank cultivation. CH4 Global’s EcoPark facility in Louth Bay, Australia, is designed to produce over 80 metric tons of Asparagopsis seaweed annually, with plans to expand to 100 and eventually 500 ponds. This scalable and cost-effective production method is set to make methane-reducing feed supplements commercially viable without government subsidies. The partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation will further expand the reach of CH4 Global’s Methane Tamer feed supplements across Asia-Pacific markets, potentially transforming the livestock industry’s environmental impact.

In the realm of indoor farming, a Buffalo, New York-based company formerly known as Ellicottville Greens has rebranded as Nimble Farms. This move comes as the company expands its operations across the Northeast, leveraging climate-controlled shipping containers to grow a variety of produce using renewable energy sources. Nimble Farms has already partnered with Tops Friendly Markets to distribute its Butterhead lettuce to 152 supermarket locations across New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. The company aims to double its operational footprint by the end of the year and ultimately build 100 locations nationwide over the next decade. This expansion is timely, given the increasing demand for locally grown, perishable produce and the challenges faced by other indoor vertical farms, such as Bowery Farming, in managing overhead costs and securing investments. Nimble Farms’ focus on local partnerships and sustainable practices positions it as a promising player in the future of agriculture.

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