Key Takeaways
- Innov8.ag acquires 2nd Sight Bioscience, enhancing its end-to-end data ecosystem for specialty crop growers and agribusinesses.
- The acquisition integrates labor, yield tracking, and produce traceability with agronomic and yield forecasting solutions.
- Specialty crop growers face mounting challenges from labor shortages and rising costs, with California labor costs up 8x in 12 years.
- 2nd Sight’s flagship solutions, FairPick and FairTrak, automate harvest tracking and labor management.
- Innov8.ag will retain 2nd Sight’s staff and intellectual property, with 2nd Sight founder Kevin Oldenburg becoming Innov8.ag’s board chair.
Innov8.ag Acquires 2nd Sight to Strengthen Data-Driven Farm Management
Innov8.ag, a leader in actionable agricultural data solutions, announced the acquisition of 2nd Sight Bioscience, a specialist in labor tracking and produce traceability systems. The acquisition, completed through a mix of cash and stock, will integrate 2nd Sight’s capabilities into Innov8.ag’s growing ecosystem.
The combined solution aims to help specialty crop growers and food companies optimize operations across planting, harvesting, and distribution, addressing key challenges including labor shortages, rising costs, and traceability requirements.
Steve Mantle, Innov8.ag founder and CEO, emphasized the urgency of integrated solutions: “Bringing 2nd Sight under the Innov8.ag umbrella gives growers and agribusiness CFOs a powerful response to what’s keeping them up at night. Agriculture simply can’t wait any longer for big ideas to turn into actionable solutions.”
Labor and Cost Pressures Drive Need for Integrated Data Tools
The acquisition comes at a critical time. Specialty crop producers—especially in California—face escalating labor costs and shrinking margins. Labor costs have increased eightfold over the past 12 years, according to Walt Duflock, VP of Innovation at Western Growers.
With farm bankruptcies up 70% in Q1 2025, Innov8.ag sees integrated labor and inventory data solutions as essential to safeguarding profitability.
Key Features of 2nd Sight’s Labor and Inventory Systems
FairPick and FairTrak — 2nd Sight’s well-established harvest tracking systems — are widely used on fruit and vegetable farms in the U.S. and internationally. Their capabilities include:
| System | Key Functionality |
|---|---|
| FairPick | Weigh-based harvest tracking using RFID cards and tamper-proof scales for crops like blueberries. |
| FairTrak | Unit-based or task-based harvest tracking, ideal for crops like tomatoes or apples. |
| Automated Receipts | Real-time harvest records and labor accountability through end-of-day uploads. |
| Inventory Management | RFID and barcode-based systems for tracking nursery stock, tissue cultures, and produce throughout the supply chain. |
Kevin Oldenburg, 2nd Sight founder and CEO, commented on the synergy: “Combining our expertise in labor and inventory tracking with Innov8.ag’s agronomic and yield solutions unveils a new level of insights that can quickly be turned into daily gains.”
Unified Platform to Deliver End-to-End Data Solutions
Following the acquisition, Innov8.ag will integrate 2nd Sight’s tools into its suite of technologies, which already cover soil management, yield forecasting, and production practices. Together, the companies aim to deliver an end-to-end solution that improves:
- Labor efficiency
- Harvest and inventory accuracy
- Data-driven decision-making from field to retail
Innov8.ag will retain 2nd Sight’s workforce and customer base. Oldenburg will transition to serve as board chair of Innov8.ag, stepping away from daily operations.
