Innov8.ag, a leading agtech company specializing in actionable data solutions for farms and agribusinesses, has announced a significant strategic move with the acquisition of 2nd Sight Bioscience. This cash and stock deal brings 2nd Sight’s robust labor tracking and inventory systems under the Innov8.ag umbrella, promising to revolutionize how specialty crop growers and food companies manage their operations.
The integration of 2nd Sight’s capabilities with Innov8.ag’s existing ecosystem of agronomic and yield management technologies is set to provide end-to-end data integration. This synergy will enable growers and food companies to plan more effectively, act swiftly, and optimize their decision-making processes. The acquisition comes at a critical time when the agricultural sector is grappling with numerous challenges, including labor shortages, climate change impacts, food safety and traceability demands, and trade disruptions.
Steve Mantle, Innov8.ag’s founder and CEO, emphasized the urgency of integrating and unlocking data capabilities to maintain operational profitability. “With growers and food companies facing rapidly mounting pressure, it’s essential to bring together the right people, equipment, and processes that turn data into clarity,” Mantle stated. “This acquisition gives growers and agribusiness CFOs a powerful response to the challenges they face, ensuring they can stay profitable in an increasingly complex landscape.”
The agricultural sector has seen a surge in farm bankruptcies, with a 70% increase in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. This trend underscores the need for innovative solutions that can help growers navigate these turbulent times. By acquiring 2nd Sight, Innov8.ag aims to provide growers with the tools they need to manage labor efficiency more effectively, a critical pain point for many in the industry.
2nd Sight’s technology, including the FairPick and FairTrak systems, automates harvest tracking and inventory management. These systems use RFID cards and legal-for-trade harvest scales to capture data on weighed crops, generating receipts for farm laborers and uploading records for real-time management. The technology is already deployed across hundreds of farms in the U.S. and internationally, supporting multiple languages and measurement systems.
Kevin Oldenburg, 2nd Sight’s founder and CEO, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, noting that combining 2nd Sight’s expertise with Innov8.ag’s data-driven approach will unlock new levels of insights for growers. “Our goal has always been to not just save growers money but to make them money,” Oldenburg said. “This integration will unveil a whole new level of insights that can quickly be turned into daily gains.”
The acquisition includes all of 2nd Sight’s assets, intellectual property, inventory, and customer base. Innov8.ag will retain 2nd Sight’s experienced staff, and Oldenburg will take over as Innov8.ag’s board chair. This move is expected to enhance Innov8.ag’s ability to provide comprehensive data solutions, from soil management and production practices to yield forecasting and labor efficiency.
For specialty crop growers, particularly those in labor-intensive sectors like berries, fruits, tree nuts, and vegetables, the acquisition represents a significant step forward. Labor costs have skyrocketed, with California growers, who supply a substantial portion of U.S. vegetables and fruits, seeing an eightfold increase over the last 12 years. The integration of 2nd Sight’s technology with Innov8.ag’s existing solutions will provide growers with the tools they need to manage these costs more effectively and ensure operational profitability.
Innov8.ag’s mission to help growers and food companies unlock operational clarity and financial gains through data-driven decisions is further strengthened by this acquisition. By providing tools for optimizing labor, inventory management, traceability, and yield forecasting, Innov8.ag is poised to become an even more indispensable partner for the agricultural industry.
