Ag tech to be demonstrated during VINE Connect Field Day in Fresno County

Six innovative ag tech startup companies have been selected to participate in VINE Connect, a program that vets and connects emerging agricultural technology with growers who can put it to use. California growers continue to face pressing issues, from persistent drought and limited labor to crop pest concerns. These startups were chosen for their promising solutions to key challenges in California agriculture, including water, labor, disease management and pollination. 

The program – run by UC ANR Innovate, the innovation arm of University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, in partnership with Farmhand Ventures – will host a free public Field Day on Thursday, June 26, at the UC West Side Research and Extension Center in Fresno County, where the selected companies will demonstrate their technologies.

“VINE Connect is about ensuring California farmers have access to new technologies that solve real problems on the farm,” said Gabe Youtsey, UC ANR’s chief innovation officer. “These six startups are developing solutions for challenges like water conservation, labor shortages, crop disease and more. We believe that by testing their innovations with growers, we can help make sure the technology truly works for farmers’ needs.”

The six ag tech startups participating in the VINE Connect Field Day are:

• HotSpot AG – A California-based company making irrigation management smarter and simpler. HotSpot AG’s system allows farmers to remotely monitor and control irrigation pumps, engines and valves via cloud-based technology, use real-time field data to schedule watering, and receive alerts to issues.

• Spornado – Creators of an early-warning disease detection device. The Spornado sampler is a passive spore trap that detects crop disease pathogens in the air long before symptoms appear on plants. Farmers place the inexpensive device in the field, send in the collected filter for analysis, and get timely alerts if threats like mildew or late blight spores are detected.

  

• Edete Precision Technologies – An ag tech firm addressing the pollination crisis with mechanical pollination services, currently offering its first commercial service for pistachios. Edete allows growers to manage pollination with the same control as irrigation by delivering precise amounts of pure, genetically fit pollen at optimal bloom times. Edete plans to expand its services to provide solutions for bee-pollinated crops like almonds and cherries, offering an alternative or supplement to natural pollination, reducing dependence on bees and helping stabilize crop yields amid growing pollination challenges.

  

• CropVue Technologies – A provider of integrated pest and crop monitoring tools. CropVue deploys networks of “smart traps” and in-field climate sensors to give growers daily data on insect pest pressure and crop conditions. High-resolution cameras and AI software identify pests caught in traps (such as moths in a vineyard), while canopy-level weather units track temperature, humidity and microclimate trends. The system delivers real-time pest counts and microclimate data to a web app, helping farmers anticipate pest pressure and make informed IPM decisions with less manual scouting.

• Verdi – Developer of a precision irrigation and farm automation platform. Verdi combines easy-to-install hardware (wireless valve controllers and sensors) with a farmer-friendly software app to automate irrigation at scale. The technology enables precision water delivery by zone, monitors system performance (detecting leaks or blockages) and integrates with soil moisture data.

  

• Bonsai Robotics – A startup bringing autonomy to farm equipment. Bonsai Robotics retrofits orchard machinery (like nut tree shakers and sweepers) with advanced vision and control systems, turning them into self-driving machines. Their autonomous equipment can operate 24/7 in orchards, even in dusty or GPS-denied environments, to shake trees or clear orchard floors without a person at the wheel. 

The VINE Connect program supports these startups by facilitating direct engagement with farmers and real-world field trials. Participants benefit from expert-led business development and field trial workshops, grower feedback, networking opportunities and guidance from UC ANR and industry experts to refine their products and accelerate the path from early-stage development to market adoption.

“Each of these companies has proven technology that could make a real difference for growers,” said Hannah Johnson, industry lead for UC ANR Innovate. “Demonstrating their solutions on the farm and hearing directly from growers give them an opportunity to refine their innovations to better serve farmers’ needs. It’s a two-way street: startups get priceless feedback to improve their products, and farmers get a sneak peek at tools that might improve their operation’s profitability and sustainability.”

“Startups need direct engagement with growers to make sure their solutions fit the realities of the farm,” said Connie Bowen, founder of Farmhand Ventures, which co-runs the VINE Connect program. “This program is designed to bridge that gap by bringing technology developers and farmers together on the ground. By testing new ag tech in real farming conditions, we’re encouraging collaboration that speeds up adoption of the most useful innovations.”

The six companies will showcase their innovations during the VINE Connect Field Day on June 26, 2025, at the UC West Side Research and Extension Center in Five Points, Fresno County. The field day will run from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and feature live demonstrations of each technology in a farm setting. This free, public event offers growers, agricultural professionals, media and community members an opportunity to see the latest ag tech solutions working in the field and to interact directly with the startup teams and UC ANR researchers.

This field day is sponsored in part by F3 Local, a regional initiative committed to strengthening California’s food and farming economy through practical, farmer-focused innovation. Their support helps ensure that growers in the Central Valley have early access to new tools and technologies aimed at improving resilience and profitability. 

To attend, please register at https://bit.ly/VINEconnectJune2025. 

UC ANR Innovate is the innovation arm of University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, dedicated to driving agriculture, food and biotechnology innovation in California. We connect people, ideas and resources to tackle real-world challenges and drive progress that empowers entrepreneurs, strengthens industries and secures a thriving, inclusive future for California’s agriculture, its workers and its communities.