Tractor maker buys AI startup in smart farming push
Deere will invest $305 million to fully acquire Blue River, which was founded in 2011. The startup is known for its “See and Spray” technology – sprayers towed behind tractors that use cameras with machine learning software to differentiate between crops and weeds, enabling growers to reduce the use of herbicides by spraying only where weeds are present.
“Blue River is advancing precision agriculture by moving farm management decisions from the field level to the plant level,” says Jorge Heraud, co-founder and CEO of Blue River Technology. “We are using computer vision, robotics, and machine learning to help smart machines detect, identify, and make management decisions about every single plant in the field.”
Blue River’s “See and Spray” robots are currently being used on lettuce (“LettuceBots”), cotton, and other specialty vegetables. According to the company, its precision farming technology can save farmers up to 90% of the volume of chemicals they use with more traditional approaches. It is also reportedly developing a drone imaging system to collect data from fields.
“As a leader in precision agriculture, John Deere recognizes the importance of technology to our customers,” says John May, President, Agricultural Solutions, and Chief Information Officer at Deere. “Machine learning is an important capability for Deere’s future.”
As part of its move toward more automated farming, Deere has been working on developing autonomous tractors, although their latest smart machine with autonomous features – itsS700 Combine– still requires a human driver. The company says its latest move is similar to its 1999 acquisition of GPS technology company NavCom Technology, which “established Deere as a leader in the use of GPS technology for agriculture and accelerated machine connectivity and optimization.”
Deere & Company
Blue River Technology
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