The Reservoir’s key partners celebrate the groundbreaking of its first agtech innovation hub in Salinas, California, marking a major milestone in collaborative agricultural technology advancement. | Credit: The Reservoir
The Reservoir official launched its agtech-focused innovation hub this week, creating a landmark program for agtech entrepreneurs to start building their businesses. Reservoir Farms, which claims to be the first on-farm startup incubator in California, features a state-of-the-art R&D facility for early-stage companies. Each company has access to maker space resources for prototyping and building its systems, along with secure build and storage areas.
The key enabler is the on-site working farm area, where the companies can test their products and gather real-world data to enable design decisions. The Robot Report posted a story in June about the open call for applications for the inaugural cohort of companies to occupy the Reservoir Farms. From this call, the initial residents at Reservoir Farms include:
These early-stage companies bought into the vision of connecting leading roboticists, engineers, and agricultural producers to accelerate technology from concept to commercialization.
“From the beginning, our vision has been far more than technology—it’s about partnerships,” said Danny Bernstein, CEO of the Reservoir. “Success is grounded in becoming an authentic part of each farming community, connecting entrepreneurs, growers and next-generation talent to reimagine the sustainability of U.S. farming. Creating this ‘Olympic Village of Agtech’ is only possible with trusted relationships on the ground and a shared vision for what’s possible.”
It was nearly a year ago that Bernstein unveiled the concept of Reservoir Farms, together with industry partners including the Western Growers Association and educational partners like UC ANR, Hartnell College, and Merced College. The vision behind Reservoir Farms is to accelerate the development of new AgTech solutions, while providing an opportunity for innovation to find its way out of research labs and into the field. This is the missing link for entrepreneurs who want to work in the agriculture world, but haven’t had the early development resources necessary to make their dreams a reality.
Last week, the Reservoir announced its strategic partnership with John Deere, a leader in agricultural technology and equipment. For Reservoir residents, the partnership creates a unique environment where innovation meets real-world application. Residents gain access to Deere’s technology (including APIs), expertise, and equipment, alongside dedicated testing acres, structured pilot opportunities, and curated field days.
Earlier this week, John Deere acquired GUSS Automation, a developer of autonomous sprayers for high-value crops. This is the latest in a series of agrobotics-related acquisitions for John Deere.
The Reservoir provides startups with a clearer path to validate solutions in high-value crops, engage directly with growers, and explore potential integrations with Deere’s global platform — strengthening the bridge between early-stage ideas and scalable agricultural impact.
You can learn more about field robotics, and network with the robotics community by attending the field robotics track at RoboBusiness 2025 in Santa Clara, CA on October 16-17. Register now.
