How TRIC Robotics is Reducing Pesticide Use in Strawberry Farming with UV Light Technology

Strawberries are the most favored berry in the U.S. among both consumers and producers. Nevertheless, they are also among the fruits heavily dependent on pesticides and often top the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” list for most contaminated crops.

Located in San Luis Obispo, California, TRIC Robotics aims to assist strawberry farmers in reducing chemical usage through the innovative application of UV light and robotic technology.

The startup has crafted a fleet of autonomous robots that harness UV-C light, a type of ultraviolet light substantially blocked by the Earth’s atmosphere, to eradicate bacteria and mitigate pest populations. These tractor-sized robots are capable of covering up to 100 acres and feature vacuums designed to collect pest remnants without damaging the crops.

TRIC deploys its robots on farms overnight as a service rather than directly selling them to farmers. While this strategy poses scaling challenges, co-founder and CEO Adam Stager informed TechCrunch that it appeared to be the most effective method for achieving rapid traction.

“We engaged extensively with farmers to determine the most effective way to implement our technology and find the right business model,” Stager explained. “We found that many farmers pay for pest and disease control services, thus we’ve effectively replaced that service model.”

While Stager emphasized a focus on the needs of farmers, the initial vision for the company was quite different. TRIC was not originally intended for agricultural applications.

After earning his PhD in robotics in 2017, Stager founded the company with a vision for 3D-printed robots for SWAT teams. In 2020, he decided to pivot towards agriculture, recognizing its potential for creating a more significant impact.

“I wanted to answer the question: if you were to die tomorrow, would you be content with your life’s achievements?” Stager stated. “I realized I needed to do something impactful, something that could benefit many lives. My journey led me to agriculture, a sector where we can truly make a difference for nearly everyone.”

Stager contacted the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to investigate technologies they had that might benefit from commercialization, knowing that many great innovations often remain limited to laboratories.

He partnered with a USDA initiative that connects individuals like Stager with scientists who have yet to commercialize their innovations. This partnership centered around the UV light technology that forms the backbone of TRIC’s robotics.

“We loaded two robots, which we built in my garage, into an SUV,” Stager recalled. “With connections made through the USDA, we encountered farmers willing to allow us to use a small plot of land in 2021, which marked the beginning of our company. It was an eight-month adventure of Airbnb hopping across the country, deploying two robots and collecting valuable data with these farmers.”

Today, the company—co-founded by Ryan Berard—collaborates with four significant strawberry producers, having deployed nine robots, with three additional units on the way.

Recently, TRIC Robotics secured a $5.5 million seed funding round led by Version One Ventures, with contributions from Garage Capital, Todd and Rahul Capital, and Lucas Venture Group, among others.

The funds will be directed toward expanding its fleet of autonomous robots, with future plans to explore other crop types.

“I believe the future of agricultural technology is incredibly bright,” Stager asserted. “People should know that the industry is progressing positively, and many exciting developments are on the horizon.”