Kubota Corporation, headquartered in Osaka, Japan, has announced the acquisition of Bloomfield Robotics, Inc., a Pittsburgh-based leader in agricultural technology. This strategic move, executed through Kubota’s North American subsidiary, Kubota North America Corporation, signifies a major expansion into the realm of advanced agricultural solutions.
Bloomfield Robotics specializes in monitoring the health and performance of specialty crops using sophisticated imaging and artificial intelligence (AI). The company’s technology employs purpose-built cameras that are easily mounted on farming equipment such as tractors. These cameras capture detailed, geo-located images of crops across an entire farm. The images are then analyzed using Bloomfield’s proprietary AI to assess critical crop data, including color, maturity, and fruit size.
The insights derived from this data help farmers optimize harvest timing, improve yield predictions, and enhance overall operational efficiency. This, in turn, leads to reduced labor costs and better asset utilization.
Mark DeSantis, President and CEO of Bloomfield Robotics, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition: “From our inception, Bloomfield’s mission has been to provide continuous, plant-level insights to specialty crop farmers globally. This acquisition accelerates our vision in ways we could not have achieved alone.”
Bloomfield and Kubota had established a close partnership over the past two years, facilitating a seamless transition. DeSantis added, “Our existing collaboration provides a solid foundation as we advance this vision together. We are excited about the future.”
Brett McMickell, Chief Technology Officer at Kubota North America, described the acquisition as a “natural evolution” of the companies’ successful partnership. He emphasized that the integration of Bloomfield’s AI-driven technology with Kubota’s established product lines will address significant agricultural challenges.
“This acquisition marks a pivotal step in Kubota’s strategy to deliver innovative smart agriculture solutions,” McMickell stated. “By combining our legacy products with cutting-edge technology, we are poised to tackle real-world issues in agriculture and advance the future of farming.”
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