NEW TECH FOODS

Taylor Farms, a US-based producer of ready-to-eat salads, has announced its acquisition of agri-tech group FarmWise's business.

FarmWise is an agricultural robotics company, operating out of California, US. It specialises in precision weeding and thinning solutions. The acquisition aims to bolster Taylor Farms' position in advancing sustainable farming practices and agricultural technology while continuing to deliver high-quality fresh food.

FarmWise's advanced automation and robotics systems enable farmers to efficiently reduce their reliance on manual labour, optimise productivity and adopt more sustainable farming practices. The company’s most popular solution is the Vulcan, an intro row weeder and precision cultivator that uses machine learning to yield optimum weed removal.

Ted Taylor, president of Taylor Farms’ agricultural operations, said: “We believe in the FarmWise technology and think we have an important role to play with industry adoption in the speciality crop space. This acquisition is another step forward in our mission to drive the future of agriculture with thoughtful and impactful innovation.”

Taylor Farms said it will immediately begin assisting with a seamless transition to ensure continuity of service for FarmWise Vulcan customers.

Tjarko Leifer, CEO of FarmWise, said: "I'm incredibly proud of what our team has built. The FarmWise Vulcan delivers a strong return on investment to vegetable growers today, and this is just the beginning. I'm more bullish than ever about a future where advanced robotics play a vital role in making farming more productive and sustainable."

The announcement marks Taylor Farms' second recent acquisition. The company recently, in partnership with Foodiverse, a Spanish-based fresh salad producer, bought Bonduelle Group’s German salad operations. The acquisition included two production plants specialising in the manufacturing of ready-to-eat salads and has allowed the two companies access to a larger European market.