TRIC Robotics, based in nearby San Luis Obispo, California, is working to revolutionize strawberry farming. They’re slashing pesticide use by up to 95 percent, using cutting-edge robotics combined with ultraviolet (UV) light technology. CEO and cofounder Adam Stager started the company in 2017, along with cofounders Vishnu Somasundaram and Ryan Berard. Together, they hope to usher in a new era of agricultural sustainability and address shared pest and bacteria woes that plague strawberry producers.
Nine Dots has since developed a fleet of ten enormous, autonomous robots. These cutting edge machines utilize UV-C light to kill dangerous bacteria and reduce populations of pests. With the reach to treat the equivalent of 100 acres in a single day, these robots deliver a more efficient solution to large-scale strawberry producers. The robots are outfitted with special vacuums. They work hard to remove bug droppings while protecting the crops, making this a safe and effective method of pest control.
TRIC Robotics is on their way to doing something bigger. Rather than selling robotic equipment directly to farmers, they run the equipment as a service. This market-driven model is the best way to quickly deploy this technology overnight on farms. It reduces the amount of disruption while people are awake and doing daytime activities. Currently, TRIC Robotics collaborates with four major strawberry producers and has deployed nine robots, with plans to introduce three more units soon.
In 2020, Adam Stager made the leap into agriculture to find a career that had a greater positive impact on the world. He was right about the transformative potential of this technology. He expressed his motivation:
“I really just wanted to answer the question, if you were to die tomorrow, would you be happy with what you accomplished in your life?” – Adam Stager
Stager knows that the future of agriculture technology can help solve some of the biggest issues facing farmers right now. He stated,
“I was like, okay, I really need to do something impactful that can help a lot of people to feel value for myself. I kind of stumbled into agriculture on that journey, and realized that’s a place where we can impact so many people, just about everybody.” – Adam Stager
In other news, there have been bright spots during the downturn, such as TRIC Robotics raising $5.5 million in a seed funding round led by Version One Ventures. Other investors include Garage Capital, Todd and Rahul Capital and Lucas Venture Group along with several angels and investment firms. This funding will allow the company grow and market itself as a major player in the FAU agricultural technology sector.
Stager reiterated the need to work with farmers from the start to develop the most effective and practical methods for deploying this technology. He explained,
“We worked a lot with the farmers to understand the right way to launch the technology and what was the right business model.” – Adam Stager
Today strawberries are still the most popular berry—both with American consumers and with American farmers. TRIC Robotics has developed terrific partnerships as a result of their work with the USDA. This provides an exciting opportunity for the company to expand its reach and positive influence in the agricultural community.
As TRIC Robotics continues to innovate in agricultural technology, Stager remains optimistic about the future of the industry:
“I think there is going to be a really, really bright future for [agriculture] tech.” – Adam Stager
