The Reservoir Launches Groundbreaking On-Farm Robotics Incubators to Revolutionize Agricultural Innovation

In a move set to transform agricultural innovation, The Reservoir has announced the launch of Reservoir Farms, the first-ever on-farm robotics incubators. Unveiled at FIRA USA 2024, these pioneering facilities are scheduled to open in California's Central and Salinas Valleys in early 2025, marking a significant shift in how agricultural technology is developed and tested.

The creation of Reservoir Farms addresses critical challenges facing California's agricultural sector, including labor shortages, import competition, increased regulation, water scarcity, and climate-related issues. These incubators aim to bridge the gap between early-stage agtech projects and the practical needs of farmers by providing direct access to growers, dedicated testing facilities, and farmland for real-world validation of new technologies.

Initial projects at Reservoir Farms will focus on early-stage agricultural innovations in automation and robotics, including rovers and drones. These technologies are crucial for developing solutions to address labor shortages, improve profitability, and implement climate-smart practices in high-value specialty crop production.

The initiative has garnered support from key industry players and educational institutions. Western Growers Association, a leading advocate for agricultural innovation, will provide financial and operational support as an anchor partner. Educational partners, including UC ANR, Hartnell College, and Merced College, will contribute to innovation and workforce development, preparing the next generation of agricultural professionals. HawkTower, a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage startups, is also backing the project.

Danny Bernstein, CEO of The Reservoir and Managing Partner of HawkTower, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, "By placing incubators directly on the farm, we enable innovators to test, iterate, and scale solutions in real-world conditions as a more immediate path to advance farming communities."

The concept for Reservoir Farms emerged from extensive industry research and consultations with over 50 organizations in the specialty crop sector. This research identified significant barriers to innovation, including limited access to real-world testing environments, shop space, and direct relationships with growers. By addressing these issues, Reservoir Farms aims to accelerate the development and adoption of new agtech solutions.

Walt Duflock, Senior Vice President of Innovation at Western Growers Association, highlighted the potential impact of this new model, saying, "Reservoir Farms offers a new model, where startups can work side-by-side with growers to test their technologies, iterate in a low-stakes environment, and build scalable solutions to improve agriculture's operations."

The initiative also focuses on supporting the broader agtech ecosystem and job creation. By collaborating with educational institutions and industry players, Reservoir Farms aims to equip the next generation of agricultural professionals with the skills needed to support the region's growing agtech sector. This collaborative approach includes partnerships with various organizations, including Central Coast Small Business Development Center, Communities Organized for Relational Power in Action, and Digital NEST, among others.

Gabriel Youtsey, Chief Innovation Officer at UC ANR, emphasized the importance of such facilities, stating, "By bridging the gap between lab-based research and real-world application and accelerating tech transfer, Reservoir Farms can help build the workforce and technology needed to address the critical challenges on the farm, from labor shortages to climate change."

The first two Reservoir Farms locations will open in Salinas Valley and Merced in the first quarter of 2025. These facilities will offer a range of services, including leasable testing fields and shop space, fully equipped R&D workshops, secure storage for equipment, and customized, pre-planted specialty crop fields for testing. The incubators will also feature co-working spaces, meeting rooms, and a robust demo day schedule to connect startups with growers, investors, and other key stakeholders.

In addition to physical resources, Reservoir Farms will provide valuable validation processes. The Western Growers Association will offer a quantitative "scorecard" to startups, providing crucial metrics on scalability, efficacy, and financial viability.