Kubota North America Acquires Bloomfield Robotics

Kubota Corporation, based in Osaka, Japan, has acquired Pittsburgh-based Bloomfield Robotics, Inc. through its North American subsidiary, Kubota North America Corporation. Bloomfield Robotics specializes in using advanced imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor the health and performance of specialty crops like grapes and blueberries. The acquisition marks a key step in Kubota’s strategy to expand its smart agriculture solutions.

“We are excited to announce the acquisition of Bloomfield Robotics, a natural evolution of our successful partnership through Kubota’s support of open innovation,” M. Brett McMickell, Chief Technology Officer for Kubota North America, said. “Combining AI-driven technology with our legacy quality products will enable Kubota to solve real issues facing agriculture. This acquisition is a key milestone for Kubota’s strategic vision to provide comprehensive smart agriculture solutions.”

Bloomfield’s technology uses purpose-built cameras mounted on farm equipment to capture detailed plant-level images, which are processed using AI to provide insights on harvest timing, crop health and yield. The acquisition is expected to enhance Kubota’s offerings in the specialty crop sector, driving operational efficiencies and advancing farm automation.

“The Bloomfield vision from our founding was to provide continuous plant-level knowledge to every specialty crop farmer around the world. This acquisition brings that vision forward at a scale and speed we could not have imagined. Fortunately, we’ve been working closely together for over two years, so we have a running start at achieving this vision. We’re truly excited for what’s to come,” Mark DeSantis, President and CEO of Bloomfield Robotics, said.

The level of mechanization and automation in specialty crop farming, such as fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, lags behind advancements incorporated in the cultivation of row crops. Innovative solutions to integrate data with automated systems, operational robotics and other assets are needed. The specialty crop market overall has become a focal point of Kubota’s strategic attention and efforts to shape the future of agriculture.