Astor Perkins's post
Astor Perkins
193 w
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With $8.4M raised, strawberry-picking robotics startup Traptic begins commercial deployment
Even prior to COVID-19, labor shortages have resulted in tremendous waste. According to Traptic’s figures, roughly 10% of U.S. strawberries rot in the field, unpicked, resulting in up to $300 million in waste, annually. During the pandemic, there was an even larger crunch, as H-2A workers suffered from restricted travel.
https://techcrunch.com/2021/07/01/after-8-4m-raise-strawberry-picking-robotics-startup-traptic-begins-commercial-deployment/
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193 w
The best way to use this technology is that it can replace pesticides!
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193 w
We are also investing in biological microbiome startups that are working to eliminate chemical pesticides with their biofungicide and antimicrobial products that will be out in the market soon.
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193 w
As a grower and consumer of strawberries... I don't think robotics are going to help the situation. I mean - how many people actually buy truly ripe strawberries? The system is flawed. Strawberries ought be grown locally, small-scale, so when the fruit is ripe, at it's sweet point for harvest, people can actually enjoy the berry. I haven't tasted a truly ripe strawberry in many years. How will robots fix that?
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193 w
Great point. We are a big believer of local farming. Aside from best practices in local regenerative farming techniques, we also look at indoor vertical farming and robotics and AI agtech capabilities that reduce chemical pesticides and fertilizers and water usage while increasing yield. And yes, these end up being sweeter, tender and juicer than the current model of pick too early and ship around the world.