California strawberry growers are embracing a technological revolution, turning to autonomous robots equipped with ultraviolet (UV) light and high-powered vacuums to tackle persistent challenges in pest control. This shift is driven by a need to reduce pesticide use, control pests more precisely, and cut labour costs, all while responding to rising consumer demand for chemical-free produce.
At the forefront of this innovation is U.S.-based TRIC Robotics, which offers a full-service solution for chemical-free pest control. The company’s latest innovation, the Luna platform, is a multi-row robot designed specifically for strawberry farms. Luna can carry a variety of payloads, including a boom for UV treatments, bug vacuums, and cameras that capture real-time plant analytics. With remote start and monitoring features, multiple robots can be deployed together to cover large farms efficiently. TRIC’s Eden platform is also designed for UV application, spanning more than 40 ft (1,219 cm) and mirroring the size and shape of conventional spray rigs. Automated boom height and wing adjustments ensure precise dosing even across uneven rows.
The roots of TRIC Robotics trace back to the University of Delaware campus, where CEO Adam Stager was a PhD student and Co-Founder Ryan Berard was completing his undergraduate studies. Stager learned that the U.S. Department of Agriculture had been working for years on non-chemical solutions for pest control, particularly in strawberries. The UV technology at the core of TRIC’s robots was pioneered by Dr Fumiomi Takeda and Dr Wojciech Janisiewicz. “I realised during my PhD that there were a lot of incredible technologies,” Stager recalls. “We made it our mission to bring that innovation to the farm.”
In 2019, together with Co-Founder Vishnu Somasundaram, Stager began building lawnmower-sized UV robots in his garage. Early farm trials showed promise, and growers began offering feedback on design and materials. The team first partnered with grower Bobby Fifer of Fifer Orchards, Delaware’s largest strawberry producer. “Bobby told us if we wanted to start a company, we better move to California, where 90% of the strawberry market is today,” Stager says. They took that advice, and now headquartered in San Luis Obispo, California, TRIC Robotics has recently raised a $5.5 million seed round led by Version One Ventures. The funding will accelerate development of its autonomous robot fleet and support expansion into new crop markets in the future.
Strawberry growers face three major challenges: chemical resistance, which reduces effectiveness; regulatory pressure, which limits availability; and rising labour costs coupled with worker shortages. Stager stresses that farmers are not necessarily seeking out robots. “For farmers, it is more about solving problems. Sometimes a robot is the right way to do that, but only if it makes sense economically. Farmers are running a business, so it makes sense that profitability drives a lot of the decisions.”
UV light has been proven effective in controlling a wide range of pests and diseases. In strawberries, key targets include two-spotted spider mites, powdery mildew, and botrytis. But since UV alone cannot eliminate every pest, TRIC has expanded the functionality of its platforms. “After running our robots with UV light for a couple of years farmers started asking us if there was more that we could do with the same robot,” Stager says. “Our bug vacuum sucks up some of the bugs that we don’t treat with light, and you can think of it like a bug on a windshield. There are baffles that the bugs hit at high speed after getting sucked up. Typically, farmers run this kind of vacuum with a traditional tractor. It runs off of the hydraulic system which introduces additional maintenance, can be less reliable due to jams, and since it can only cover 3-rows, it is inefficient from a labour and fuel standpoint.”
Running the robots at night brings further advantages. Stager points to strong results against pests such as spotted wing drosophila, while daytime operations benefit from less disruption in the fields. “Getting the vacuum with its noise and debris out of the field during the day also makes for better environment for the rest of the field crews.”
California strawberry growers face mounting pressure to reduce chemical inputs while meeting strict sustainability standards. TRIC Robotics reports that its robots can cut pesticide use by as much as 70%. “We like to think of UV as a tool that can be used as part of a farmers integrated pest management strategy,” Stager says. “Although we have seen farmers replace as much as 70% of their planned spray program, it will depend a lot on the field.” He points to fields where powdery mildew is a recurring problem. “When a farmer uses our solution, they will not only