Yamaha, others invest in robotic strawberry harvester

Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley (YMVSV), the strategic business development and investment arm of Yamaha Motor, announced Aug. 27 it had raised a total $7.5 million for Advanced Farm Technologies (AFT), a developer of robotic farming equipment that includes the T-6 robotic strawberry harvester.

The Yamaha Motor Exploratory Fund was leveraged to secure additional investments from Kubota Corporation, Catapult Ventures and Impact Venture Capital.

YMVSV’s focus is on “disruptive technological solutions that meet the challenges of the global food supply chain,” according to a press release.

“We see tremendous potential in Advanced Farm Technologies’ robotic harvesting solution as a means of helping to meet the growing global market demand for fresh fruits and vegetables,” said Nolan Paul, Partner and Global AgTech Lead for YMVSV.

Marc Grossman, CEO of Advanced Farm Technologies, said in a press release the investment would allow the company to “expand our lead in robotic strawberry harvesting and continue to innovate in other areas.”

Based in Davis, California, AFT is a private company.

“In 2019, AFT became the first U.S. company to commercialize robotic strawberry harvesting using its innovative T-6 platform designed specifically for soil-planted beds,” according to a press release.