The company is putting that system to work at a
10,000-square foot (930 square metre) greenhouse in Gilroy, California, where a
self-driving robot named Grover moves pallets of Genovese Basil and a robotic
arm system lifts the pallets for inspection. Sensors check the water for
nitrogen and acidity levels for healthy growth.
"Then they say, 'What is missing? What does that plant
need that we're not giving it'," Alexander said. Any water not used can be
pumped back into the system to be reused later.
Agriculture plays an important role in California's economy,
but water usage is increasingly in the spotlight. The last major drought in
2012-2017 cut irrigation for farmers, forced strict household conservation
measures and stoked deadly wildfires.
Iron Ox grows Thai basil and strawberries and is working on
cilantro, parsley, and tomatoes. The company is also building a new
535,000-square-foot greenhouse in Lockhart, Texas, 30 miles (48km) south of
Austin.
Alexander said hydroponics - saving water by growing plants
without soil - is just one piece of the puzzle for future farming.
"To really eliminate waste, to really get to that next
level of sustainability and impact, we have to rethink the entire grow
process," he said.
The funding round included investors from Crosslink Capital,
R7 Partners, and Pathbreaker Ventures, among others. Iron Ox declined to
comment on its valuation. - Reuters