FIRA USA 2023

The Salinas Sports Complex, home of the famous California Rodeo Salinas, is set to become the hub of agricultural innovation as it hosts the 2023 edition of FIRA USA. The three-day event will bring together the AgTech automation community for a showcase of the latest robotic farming solutions, exhibitions, presentations, discussions, and networking opportunities.

Following a successful first edition in Fresno, the French non-profit association GOFAR, Western Growers, and the VINE/University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC-ANR) are collaborating once again for this traveling event throughout California. The event aims to bring together startups and growers, providing them with great content, demos, and conversations that will benefit the AgTech automation community.

FIRA in Salinas: robot exhibition, demos, extravaganza and live sessions, all in one place

The primary goal of FIRA USA is to unite the AgTech automation community through engaging content, innovative demos, and fruitful conversations.

“We found a willing audience on both sides — startups enjoyed being part of a focused event where most of the attendees were looking for their type of solution, and growers were also interested in attending a show that focused on one type of solution”, mentioned Walt Duflock, VP Innovation at Western Growers Association.

The Salinas Sports Complex location offers a comprehensive experience, with all formats located in one place, making it effortless for attendees to navigate between theater-style presentations, the exhibitor area, and the demo area.

“Our aim is to create a favorable environment that facilitates seamless interaction between growers, innovators, and the latest advancements in robotic farming technology,” stated Gabriel Youtsey, Chief Innovation Officer at UC-ANR and head of The VINE initiative.

Over 25 farming robots already signed up for FIRA USA 2023 in Salinas (CA)

FIRA’s organizers, French association GOFAR, Western Growers and University of California ANR/The VINE announce that already 25 robots have signed up for FIRA USA 2023.

“Even if FIRA USA 2022 in Fresno was already a success, this year marks a real turn: four months before the event, we already confirmed 25 robots – and it’s just the beginning!”notes Maialen Cazenave, co-director in charge of the partnerships at GOFAR. “Coming from California, other states in the US, and even from Europe, we expect another 10 to 20 robots to partner with us – and we have space to welcome them both on the exhibition area and on the demo zones (on vegetables, fruits, orchards, and vineyards)”.

From weed control to fruits picking, robots main functions at FIRA USA

Here is the list of the 25 robots from the companies that already confirmed their participation in FIRA USA 2023:

Bluewhite (USA – California): Bluewhite’s Pathfinder transforms any brand of existing orchard or vineyard tractor into a fully autonomous fleet, capable of executing multiple tasks, such as spraying, herbicide, discing, mowing, or harvesting, with high precision and operating efficiency.
Naïo Technologies (France and USA – California): Oz, Ted, Orio and Jo: light electric and autonomous ag. robots to offer a sustainable alternative to the use of herbicides that can interface with smart implements to offer a high precision weeding, seeding, mowing and a very precise guidance of the implements.
Carbon Robotics (USA – California): high-precision LaserWeeder™ leverages sophisticated AI deep learning technology, computer vision, robotics, and lasers.
Stout Industrials (USA – California): the Stout Smart Cultivator is a software-defined, tractor-drawn implement that uses machine vision and artificial intelligence to cultivate and weed fields using mechanical blades.
Agtonomy (USA): A fully electric, reference tractor that executes labor-intensive field missions such as mowing, spraying, transport, and weeding, in the toughest terrain.
Ecorobotix (Switzerland): ARA is a high-precision sprayer developed by Ecorobotix, which enables the ultra-targeted application of herbicides, fungicides, insecticides or fertilizers, reducing the use of them up to 95%.
Solinftec (Brazil): scouting robot that scans the crops and record their growth rates, plant health the prevalence of any weeds, suited for farms around 500 acres and works with several types of row crops including corn, soybeans, cotton, wheat, canola and many others.
Nexus Robotics (Canada): weeding and scouting robot that provides farmers with real-time information about the size and health of their crops.
Verdant Robotics (USA – California): multi-action, autonomous farm robot capable of millimeter-accurate spraying, laser weeding, and AI-based digital crop modeling.
GUSS Automation (USA – California): GUSS autonomous sprayers provide a solution to labor challenges while increasing efficiency, precision and safety in orchards, vineyards, and high-density orchards.
SeedSpider (USA – California): the WeedSpider can be configured to efficiently and accurately mechanically weed, mechanically thin, or precision spray commercial vegetable crops.
Farm-ng (USA – California): Amiga is a modular, all-electric micro-tractor that can turn-in-place, haul, lift, carry tools, cultivate, and is easy to adapt to any farm’s cropping systems and cultural practices.
Monarch Tractor (USA – California): fully electric, driver-optimal, smart Tractor platform built to empower farmers by enabling profitable implementation of sustainable and organic practices.
Mantis Ag Technologies (USA – California): from thinners to sprayers and cultivators, the line of products turns intelligence, automation and data into smart, practical solutions for growers.
Burro (USA – California): Burros use computer vision, high precision GPS, and AI to follow people to navigate autonomously from A to B while carrying various payloads.
Robotics Plus (New Zealand): modular platform, designed to accommodate swappable attachments for spraying – mowing, trimming and weed control under development.
Aigen (USA – Washington) : robotics platform powered by the sun, directly. Like a plant! We aim for affordability and scale, while others aim for high profit margins. We start with the farmer first, and build our platform from there.
EDETE (Israel): end-to-end artificial pollination service comprising 2 steps that mimics the natural pollination process: 1. collecting and 2. distributing pollen.
K.U.L.T. (Germany): agricultural machines for soil cultivation and weeding solutions for vegetable production, field crops, ornamental production, herbs, grassland, vineyards, orchards,…
Sabanto (USA – Iowa): aftermarket autonomy system installed on tractors.
Swarmfarm (Australia):  autonomous agriculture, creating tailored solutions for efficient and sustainable agriculture.
Farmwise (USA) : Vulcan, a weeding implement that packs cutting-edge computer vision into a lightweight, open cultivator frame
Agrointelli (Denmark): ROBOTTI an agricultural tool carrier, self-driving platform combines robotics with simple and robust components.

For more information and to register for the event, please visit: www.fira-usa.com