In a move set to reshape the future of agriculture, Oishii has announced the strategic acquisition of key intellectual property and assets from Tortuga AgTech, along with the integration of Tortuga’s top engineering talent. This union, unveiled in New York, NY, on March 24, 2025, aims to tackle two of the most pressing challenges in modern agriculture: climate uncertainty and labor shortages.
Oishii, renowned for its innovative vertical farming techniques, operates the world’s largest indoor vertical strawberry smart-farm. The company’s state-of-the-art robots work tirelessly to ensure strawberries are picked at their peak ripeness, marrying traditional plant science with cutting-edge technology. Tortuga AgTech, on the other hand, specializes in automated harvesting and autonomous robots, with a focus on strawberries and grapes—two of the most delicate and labor-intensive crops to harvest.
The acquisition will turbocharge Oishii’s robotic harvesting capabilities, integrating Tortuga’s advanced technologies with Oishii’s existing systems. This includes AI-driven models, frontier robotics software, and custom hardware, all of which will be enhanced by the combined engineering prowess of both companies. The goal is to create a fully autonomous harvesting system that can significantly improve yield outcomes and provide farmers with invaluable data and insights.
One of the most immediate impacts of this deal will be seen in Oishii’s strawberry farms. This year, Oishii’s robots are expected to surpass human farmers in picking the brand’s premium Koyo Berries, reducing harvesting expenses by 50%. As Oishii continues to expand its smart farming system, the robots will be able to harvest tens of millions of strawberries, demonstrating the potential of this technological alliance.
The implications of this acquisition extend beyond just strawberries. The combined technologies and engineering power of Oishii and Tortuga AgTech have the potential to revolutionize the way we approach agriculture. By creating more resilient, sustainable, and successful farming systems, they can help address the challenges posed by climate change and labor shortages. Moreover, the data collected by these advanced robots can optimize operations, leading to a more efficient and eco-friendly food system.
The acquisition also underscores the growing trend of vertical farming and the increasing role of technology in agriculture. As the global population continues to grow, and arable land becomes scarcer, innovative solutions like those offered by Oishii and Tortuga AgTech will become increasingly important. This deal is a significant step towards a future where technology and agriculture go hand in hand, creating a more sustainable and food-secure world.
