Chipotle is making a bet on regenerative farming robots.
What’s happening:
- Iconic restaurant operator Chipotle (NYSE: CMG) has made an investment into agriculture robotics startup Greenfield Robotics
- The investment was made through Chipotle’s venture capital arm Cultivate Next
The big idea:
- Greenfield Robotics manufactures artificial intelligence powered robots that are designed to plant crops and remove weeds without using any chemicals
- Greenfield’s robotics are capable of operating anytime at day or at night through their proprietary software
Going deeper:
- Removing chemicals from the agricultural process is capable of replenishing the soil that crops are grown in and also creating more nutritional density in the food that is produced
- The Kansas Department of Commerce is an early investor in Greenfield Robotics
The intrigue:
- California based pet food company Canidae has been leveraging Greenfield’s robotics to help produce regenerative, chemical free crops that they utilize as ingredients
By the numbers:
- Chipotle’s Cultivate Next venture fund has allocated $50M USD to investing in startups building the future of agriculture and food technology
