Bonsai Robotics Acquires Fellow Ag-Tech Startup, Farm-ng

Bonsai Robotics last week confirmed that it has purchased fellow Bay Area ag-tech startup, Farm-ng. The announcement is accompanied by a notable C-suite shakeup. Former Farm-ng CEO, Brendan Dowdle, is now Bonsai’s Chief Business Officer. One-time John Deere exec, John Teeple is now COO, while OpenCV President/Founder, Gary Bradski, was recently named Chief Science Officer.

Tyler Niday, who will stay on as the CEO of the combined companies, says of the deal, “Growers don’t need more complexity. They need tools that just work. That’s what unites Bonsai and farm-ng: a belief that autonomy and robotics should meet growers where they are, not where the Silicon Valley wants them to be.”

Labor shortages are a longstanding issue for U.S. farms, a fact of life that is only likely to worsen in the coming years. Many view automation as potential solution, though tech founders haven’t historically done the best job getting to know the needs of their potential base.

Farmers won’t adopt technology for technology’s sake. They’re most likely to embrace those that can comfortably slot into existing workflows, increasing output, without disrupting their day to day.

For this reason, many agricultural robotics firms have moved toward technologies that augment existing farming systems. The idea is to bring autonomy to those pieces of heavy equipment that farmers already know and trust.

Both Bonsai and Farm-ng approach the space from distinct angles. Bonsai delivers autonomy primarily through its software and sensor offerings. Farm-ng’s Amiga system, meanwhile, is a modular system that can be customized for a number of farm tasks, like hauling, towing, and seeding.

“Bonsai brings powerful vision-based autonomy and a proven software stack. farm-ng brings an adaptable, modular platform trusted by growers, researchers, and developers,” says Dowdle. “Together, we can now deliver smarter, more accessible tools that meet farmers where they are—whether they’re running a 5hp electric UGV or a 200hp tractor.”

Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.