Description:

Vonnie Estes welcomes Nathan Dorn, VP of Business Development for Farm-ng, and Alex Gutierrez, Founder of L5 Robotics, to explore the transformative role of robotics in agriculture. Nathan discusses Farm-ng’s development of small electric robotic tractors that support farming tasks such as data collection, weeding, and harvesting, while also empowering students and researchers with hands-on learning opportunities. Alex shares insights into L5 Robotics’ autonomous harvesting systems for strawberries, designed to address labor shortages and improve efficiency. Together, they shed light on how robotics is paving the way for smarter, more sustainable agricultural systems.

Key Points from the Conversation:

• Farm-ng’s open-source robotic tractors and their applications in farming and education.

• L5 Robotics’ approach to autonomous harvesting and labor efficiency in strawberry production.

• Overcoming challenges in scaling robotics and reducing costs for farmers.

• The intersection of robotics, sustainability, and the future of food systems.

Guest Information:

Nathan Dorn – VP of Business Development for Farm-ng, a company focused on small-scale robotics for sustainable farming and education.

Alex Gutierrez – Founder of L5 Robotics, specializing in autonomous harvesting technologies for strawberries and other crops.