Key Takeaways
- Reservoir and Western Growers have opened membership applications for Reservoir Farms, the first on-farm robotics incubator for specialty crops.
- Located in California’s Salinas Valley, the incubator connects agtech startups directly with growers to co-develop and test field-ready automation technologies.
- The program focuses on robotic harvesters, machine vision, field robotics, edge AI, and soil analytics.
- Startups will gain access to planted test fields, R&D workshops, and validation via Western Growers’ established scorecard system.
- The first 12 startups will be selected by August 2025.
Reservoir Farms Launches First-of-Its-Kind Robotics Incubator for Specialty Crops
Reservoir and Western Growers have officially opened applications for membership at Reservoir Farms, a new on-farm robotics incubator designed to accelerate agricultural technology for specialty crop production. Located in California’s Salinas Valley, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between agtech startups and growers by providing a collaborative, field-based development environment.
The facility is the first of its kind to focus specifically on real-world deployment of robotics and automation tools for crops such as strawberries, broccoli, and romaine. Startups accepted into the incubator will work side by side with growers to refine, test, and validate their technologies in working farm environments.
Western Growers Emphasizes Grower-Driven Innovation
Addressing Commercial Adoption Challenges in AgTech
Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia emphasized the importance of aligning agtech innovation with grower needs: “Reservoir Farms represents a new kind of research and development model, putting growers in the driver’s seat and accelerating practical innovation that fits the real-world complexity of our farms.”
The incubator addresses a known challenge in agtech—many solutions are developed in isolation from field conditions, leading to limited commercial viability. Reservoir Farms aims to close this gap by integrating grower insights from the outset and validating technologies through Western Growers’ standardized evaluation process.
Reservoir Farms Seeks Startups for Salinas Valley Cohort
Robotics and AI-Focused AgTech Solutions
Applications are now open for the inaugural 2025 cohort, which will consist of 12 startups. The incubator is targeting early-stage companies developing technologies such as:
- Robotic harvesters for strawberries, broccoli, romaine, and iceberg
- Rugged mobility platforms for uneven agricultural terrain
- Machine vision for crop maturity and quality assessment
- Lightweight end effectors for delicate crop handling
- Modular field robotics hardware
- Edge AI solutions for real-time, cloud-independent operations
- Precision soil and bed analytics
Startups will be given access to custom-planted test fields, dedicated R&D facilities, and shop space, without the requirement of long-term leases.
Western Growers’ Validation Framework Supports Commercial Readiness
Quantitative Scorecards Guide Development and Investor Trust
Through the Western Growers’ validation process, participating companies will receive detailed scorecards that assess scalability, technical performance, and financial viability. This process provides startups with structured, field-based feedback while helping build confidence among growers and investors.
Danny Bernstein, CEO of The Reservoir, highlighted the initiative’s goals: “Our mission is to move breakthrough technologies off whiteboards and out of labs—into the field, where they solve real-world problems. Our partnership with Western Growers is key—it gives startups early access to grower insights and connects them to WG’s rigorous validation process.”
Application Details and Next Steps
Applications for membership at Reservoir Farms can be submitted via their website. The selected startups for the first Salinas Valley cohort will be announced in August 2025.
