Posts By: Ben Palone
Forging New Paths: Why Specialty Crop Harvest Automation Requires Creative, Grower Led Solutions
Harvesting specialty crops has always been an intensely labor‑dependent process, but in today’s environment, the challenges surrounding labor availability, cost and reliability have pushed growers into increasingly uncertain territory. Across much of the specialty crop sector—leafy greens, tree fruit, berries, and vegetables—harvest labor represents nearly two‑thirds of total…
2025: A Strong Year of Steady Innovation Meets Harsh Realities
As we reflect on 2025, the agricultural robotics sector was a mixed bag of fluctuating signals. The year saw rapid advancements in automation, driven by AI, precision tech and strategic mergers. This serves as a stark reminder that compelling ROI and value propositions are primary factors for growers to adopt agtech. Autonomous navigation breakthroughs to non-traditional chemical inputs for pest…