Robotics Company Saga Secures $11.2 Million Funding to Expand its UV-C Light-equipped 'Bot Squad, Focused on Eradicating Powdery Mildew
Saga Robotics, a specialist in ag robotics, is set to make a significant impact in the agricultural sector. The company aims to triple its footprint in US vineyards and increase its penetration of the UK tabletop strawberry market to 30% next year.
The company's growth strategy is centered around its recent $11.2 million fundraising round. This funding will be used to scale the commercial deployment of Saga's Thorvald autonomous robots, equipped with UV-C light technology.
Saga Robotics currently holds about a 20% market share in the UK tabletop strawberry market, servicing 13 leading strawberry growers. In the US, its Thorvald robots operate on over 1,300 acres of vineyards, primarily in California, where powdery mildew is a significant issue.
The expansion plan involves expanding the fleet, accelerating adoption in key markets, transitioning from initial market traction to large-scale commercial adoption, and offering solutions through a Farming-as-a-Service (FaaS) model. This model allows growers to pay for disease-free acreage instead of buying robots outright, lowering barriers to entry and spreading costs over time.
Saga Robotics is also focusing on tailoring technology adaptations for different crops and terrains. For instance, they are modifying Thorvald for vineyards' specific trellising systems and slopes, and planning a new grapevine-specific robot. The company is also capitalizing on incentives such as California’s CORE program, which offers substantial grants for robot purchases.
The Thorvald platform is already equipped with cameras that enable growers to collect data for yield prediction and disease detection, generating further savings. Saga Robotics' approach emphasizes sustainability by reducing chemical use, improving farming efficiency, and offering precision solutions specific to each specialty crop market.
The company is currently creating more value than just replacing chemicals in UK strawberries, with better control of powdery mildew, less loss, and substantially higher yields. Growers typically see a return on their investment through higher yields and reduced labor costs due to the use of UV-C light to tackle powdery mildew.
Saga Robotics operates a Robots as a Service (RaaS) model, where growers pay a fee per acre to treat their crops. The ROI for growers in UK strawberries is such that what they gain in one year of yield increases will pay for Saga’s services for the next five to 10 years.
Alice Laurora, VP of Praesidium Agri-FoodTech, has stated that Saga Robotics has the right team, the right tech, proven technology, and a clear path to scale. The company was founded in 2016 by Dr. Pål Johan From and Dr. Lars Grimstad.
In the future, Saga Robotics predicts that the number of autonomous robots in California will be substantial, and the ag robotics industry will grow quickly. However, there are tasks in the ag robotics field where it isn't viable yet due to lack of dexterity or cost effectiveness.
Saga Robotics had a strawberry harvester four years ago but decided not to pursue it due to commercial viability concerns. Currently, Thorvald is focusing on tabletop strawberries in polytunnels and California's vineyards, requiring smaller machines with significant precision.
Some wine growers in California have bought the 'bots outright now that Thorvald qualifies for California's CORE incentive program, which offers substantial grants for robot sales. Saga Robotics is adding additional offerings to the battery-powered Thorvald platform, including beneficials, data collection for disease detection and yield prediction, and tools to cut runners.
References: 1. Saga Robotics secures $11.2 million for expansion 2. Saga Robotics aims to triple its footprint in US vineyards 3. Saga Robotics targets 30% market share in UK strawberries 4. Saga Robotics' Thorvald robot tackles powdery mildew 5. Saga Robotics' Farming-as-a-Service model
- Saga Robotics, with its recent funding, plans to invest in data-and-cloud-computing solutions to enhance the Thorvald platform, providing growers with improved yield prediction and disease detection capabilities.
- In the realm of real-estate and technology, Saga Robotics is considering expanding its operations into other specialty crop markets, capitalizing on learnings from UK strawberries and US vineyards to offer precision agriculture solutions.
