Startup Company Says Its Robots Could Revolutionize Modern Farming

On most major farms around the world, the act of sowing and harvesting no longer relies entirely on the backbreaking labor of generations past. While it can still be a difficult way to make a living, technological advancements have helped farmers become more efficient in a variety of important ways.

As we recently reported, John Deere is teaming up with SpaceX to connect farm equipment to the internet even in the most rural locations. But one Israeli startup company wants to take the tractor trend further.

$39 million later

The company is called Bluewhite and it has been pursuing a project that involves robots capable of being customized to operate with any tractor. Once installed, developers say the tractors would be capable of operating autonomously.

And investors are clearly intrigued, as evidenced by the $39 million Bluewhite has already received in funding. Its latest round of funding places a value on the company of as high as $300 million, which is more than twice its valuation during the previous round about three years ago.

Bluewhite robots are already being used on farms of all sizes, including in the states of California and Washington, and they have already racked up roughly 50,000 combined hours of autonomous use.

A widespread evolution

Just as AI is changing countless other industries, Bluewhite and a growing number of competitors around the world say that emerging tech can replace physical labor while also maximizing the yield of crops by providing real-time, customized insights.

While the cost to maintain a typical tractor can be $100,000 or more each year, Bluewhite CEO Ben Alfi says an investment in his company’s robots will provide more cost-effective hardware and service in the long run.

“We want to maximize the existing assets people have,” he explained.

Chris Agee January 24th, 2024

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