Saga Robotics bets big on US vineyards with new GM, fresh capital for UV-C ‘bots: ‘Chemical free winegrowing is the holy grail’

Ag robotics professional Saga Robotics is increasing down on the United States winery industry with a brand-new United States basic supervisor and added financing to sustain its fleet of independent ‘crawlers taking on grainy mold with UV-C light.

As an additional near its $11.2 million round in 2025, it has actually protected an unrevealed amount from Xinomavro Ventures, a VC company devoted to technology sustaining the white wine sector, and selected Caine Thompson– previously basic supervisor at O’Neill Vintners & Distillers– as its brand-new United States basic supervisor, beginning Jan 26.

Legend owner Chum Johan From– that formerly led United States procedures– will certainly go back to Norway to think a brand-new duty as primary development police officer, leading critical collaborations, technology growth, growth right into brand-new plants and markets, and sustaining future fundraising tasks. To make certain connection via the 2026 period, he will certainly continue to be proactively associated with United States procedures via June.

Significantly boost in acres under therapy in 2025

Established In Norway in 2016 by Dr. Chum Johan From and Dr. Lars Grimstad, Legend Robotics’ Thorvald independent platform has actually constructed considerable grip in the UK tabletop strawberry market and is currently increase procedures in The golden state’s wineries, where grainy mold is agrowing problem UV-C light harms the fungi by interrupting DNA duplication and cell feature, avoiding it from expanding and replicating.

Throughout the 2025 The golden state white wine grape period, Legend Robotics accomplished a 10x rise in acres under therapy and anticipates to virtually three-way dealt with property once again in 2026.

While various other gamers utilizing UV-C for plant security such as TRIC Robotics have actually established bigger devices created for covering several rows of strawberries in open areas, Legend Robotics is concentrating on tabletop strawberries in polytunnels and The golden state’s wineries, which need smaller sized devices with considerable accuracy.

Like numerous gamers in the area it runs a Robotics as a Solution (RaaS) version, wherein farmers pay a cost per acre to treat their plants instead of acquiring the ‘crawlers outright.

” Legend Robotics is dealing with among the white wine sector’s most important obstacles with an option that is both functional and transformative. Its capability to range independent UV-C therapy in industrial wineries settings it as a group leader” Guillaume De Pracomtal, establishing companion, Xinomavro

‘ An uncommon technical innovation’

Offered existing fungicides to take on grainy mold are becoming less effective, farmers usually see a return on their financial investment via greater returns (as UV-C is much more efficient) in addition to minimized labor expenses.

However they can additionally assist winegrowers relocate far from artificial chemicals, stated Thompson, that led sustainability efforts for O’Neill Vintners and Distillers.

” To speed up lasting and regenerative viticulture better, chemical cost-free winegrowing is the divine grail,” he informed AgFunderNews “The Thorvald UV-C robotic is an uncommon technical innovation that is an option to this issue. This is reducing the obstacle to entrance right into lasting, natural and regenerative winegrowing by getting rid of the demand for artificial chemicals, which is changing winegrowing.”

He included: “There is a frame of mind change needed for winegrowers as there are 2 significant modifications to ‘regular’ winery procedures, one being utilizing independent devices as opposed to tractors and the 2nd being making use of UVC light to regulate illness as opposed to chemicals. What reduces the danger for farmers is that there is independent 3rd party study revealing Thorvald’s performance versus illness vs utilizing chemicals, integrated with a variety of farmers that have actually been effectively utilizing the innovation that have actually swiftly enhanced location being dealt with.”

Legend’s most recent devices are additionally kitted out with cams to accumulate information making it possible for farmers to identify condition and anticipate returns, creating more financial savings, stated Thompson.

Structure count on … and afterwards grip

From stated the company was continuously constructing count on The golden state’s white wine industry: “Normally we may begin with 10-20 hectares in period one, and afterwards possibly we do half the ranch in period 2, and afterwards the whole ranch in period 3. And since words in the sector is out that the efficiency generally is far better than what you acquire with chemicals, I assume we can scale up quicker.

” It additionally assists that we have actually collaborated with the most effective farmers in the UK, which’s been a really critical strategy. Allow’s collaborate with the greatest and the most effective, with individuals that farmers aim to and believe in. If these men are doing it, after that we need to most likely be doing it also.”

Thompson included: “In the UK we intend to deal with 30% of the [polytunnel tabletop] strawberry location in the 2026 expanding period. On the viticulture side, we see possibility in numerous white wine creating areas around the globe to breakthrough chemical cost-free farming via robotics and UVC, where grainy mold and downy mold are significant concerns.”

Additional analysis:

🎥‘Like a Roomba for vineyards…’ Bien Nacido puts Saga Robotics’ UV-C robots to the test

From bulky bulbs to tiny chips: Uviquity emerges from stealth with far-UVC disinfection breakthrough

Armed with fresh funds, TRIC Robotics plans aggressive fleet expansion across CA’s strawberry fields

See our current video clip with Bien Nacido Estate winery supervisor Greg Gonzalez in Santa Maria and Legend Robotics cofounder Chum Johan From:

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