Oishii, the vertical farming company renowned for its premium strawberries and tomatoes, has acquired the key intellectual property (IP) and assets of Colorado-based harvest robotics startup Tortuga AgTech. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the acquisition is expected to enhance Oishii’s farm automation and engineering capabilities.
Tortuga AgTech, established in 2016, has gained recognition for its commercial harvesting fleet of 150 robots, which specialize in picking strawberries, table grapes, and berries. The robots are also capable of collecting plant data and performing additional tasks such as trimming and treating plants with UV-C light.
A Strategic Partnership Becomes a Permanent Collaboration
The acquisition follows a six-month partnership between the two companies, during which Tortuga’s robotics technology was tested within Oishii’s farm units. The success of this collaboration ultimately led to the decision to integrate Tortuga’s expertise and assets into Oishii’s operations.
Oishii’s co-founder and COO, Brendan Somerville, emphasized that the primary motivation behind the acquisition was to remain at the forefront of agricultural innovation and strengthen the company’s infrastructure. He noted that adding Tortuga’s capabilities to Oishii’s existing in-house automation efforts would accelerate advancements in farm robotics and efficiency.
Tortuga AgTech’s CEO and co-founder, Eric Adamson, highlighted that with the decline in venture capital funding for agritech, the alignment between Tortuga and Oishii presented the most valuable opportunities for all parties involved. He also pointed out that Oishii’s ability to successfully bring products to market made it an attractive partner for scaling robotics applications in farming.
Enhancing Automation in Vertical Farming
Oishii has been integrating automation into its vertical farms since its inception, using robotics to detect strawberry ripeness before harvesting. At its main facility, Amatelas Farm, the company currently operates around 50 robots that capture data on environmental variables such as light, temperature, and wind speed, which are adjusted over time to optimize plant growth.
With the acquisition of Tortuga AgTech’s technology, Oishii will incorporate advanced AI models, robotics software, and custom hardware into its existing systems. These additions will be used alongside Yaskawa Robotics, Oishii’s long-standing automation partner. The integration is expected to increase efficiency and reduce harvest expenses by 50%, with Oishii claiming that the enhanced robots will be able to surpass human farmers in strawberry picking.
Somerville also highlighted that beyond acquiring technology, Tortuga’s engineering team played a crucial role in the decision. Many of Tortuga’s key engineers have already joined Oishii, and the teams have started working together to push forward development efforts.
Also read: Terra Drone Agri and KISMEC Partner to Enhance Employment Opportunities in Malaysia
Expanding Market Reach and Future Prospects
While many vertical farming startups have struggled financially in recent years, Oishii has continued to expand its presence in grocery stores. The company, which raised $134 million in 2024, has significantly lowered the cost of its strawberries, by 80% over the past few years, and has expanded availability from the Northeast U.S. to D.C., Chicago, Virginia, Texas, and Wisconsin.
For Tortuga AgTech, the acquisition marks a new chapter. Adamson stated that the immediate focus will be on integrating its robotics technology into Oishii’s production facilities. While he hinted at future innovations in harvesting robotics, he noted that the company is not yet ready to disclose further details.
Adamson added that the partnership with Oishii provides Tortuga AgTech’s technology with the best opportunity for long-term success. With Oishii’s strong financial backing and established market presence, the acquisition creates a pathway for scaling robotic harvesting technology in commercial farming.
As the teams work together to integrate their expertise, Oishii and Tortuga AgTech aims to further optimize automated harvesting, reduce costs, and increase efficiency in vertical farming operations.
