The World FIRA Ag Robotics Forum is launching a new event to take place in Fresno on October 18-20 to connect specialty crop growers, agtech startups, investors and leaders in workforce development.
The French non-profit organization GOFAR established the annual forum in 2016 and has partnered with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR), the Western Growers Association and the Fresno-Merced Future of Food (F3) Initiative to launch FIRA USA in the San Joaquin Valley.
“Ag robotics are here right now and really starting to address [the world’s pressing agriculture, food and health] challenges by saving water, reducing chemicals and solving labor problems,” said UC ANR Chief Innovation Officer Gabe Youtsey, in a press conference announcing the forum on Tuesday in Fresno.
Walt Duflock, vice president of innovation at Western Growers, saluted the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in San Francisco but said FIRA USA “is going to be different,” with a specific focus on agtech robotics. Duflock noted that—despite rising costs for water and food safety—labor is the top challenge for farmers these days, for both availability and cost.
Recent Comments