4AG stated it has accomplished harvesting robotic deployments on three mushroom farms. | Supply: 4AG Robotics
4AG Robotics yesterday stated it has closed a Sequence B funding spherical of CAD 40 million, round $29 million U.S. The corporate stated it’s going to use the funding to satisfy demand for its robotic harvesting platform, which is already in use throughout Canada, Eire, and Australia, with new deployments quickly to be underway within the Netherlands and the U.S.
The worldwide mushroom sector—anticipated to surpass $70 billion by 2030—continues to face labor shortages and margin strain, based on 4AG Robotics. In Western markets, harvesting accounts for as much as 50% of manufacturing prices, stated the Canadian firm.
These challenges are amplified by the fixed want for harvesting, with mushrooms doubling in dimension each 24 hours, and farms needing to reap their crops on daily basis of the 12 months. Based in 1999 as TechBrew Robotics, 4AG stated its “plug-and-play” robotic fleet affords growers a path to long-term competitiveness with out reconfiguring their whole operation.
“This funding helps us leap from a start-up proving our product works to a scale-up producer making an attempt to maintain tempo with demand,” said Sean O’Connor, CEO of 4AG Robotics. “In simply two and a half years, we’ve gone from asking farms to trial our expertise to having deposits for over 40 further robots. As one of many first corporations to completely automate the human hand in produce harvesting, we’re ushering in a brand new period for mushroom farming.”
4AG Robotics plans for development
4AG Robotics’ system makes use of AI-powered laptop imaginative and prescient, precision suction grippers, and superior movement management to autonomously harvest, trim, and pack mushrooms across the clock—with out handbook labor. Designed to retrofit into current Dutch-rack infrastructure, the robots allow constant high quality, lowered labor prices, and real-time operational knowledge for growers, the corporate claimed.
This spherical follows a $17.5 million spherical in 2023, bringing 4AG’s complete capital raised to $57.5 million previously two years. The corporate stated it plans to make use of its newest funding to:
Develop its manufacturing footprint in Salmon Arm, British Columbia
Develop its discipline service and buyer success groups
Speed up improvement of options similar to punnet packing, illness detection, and AI-driven yield optimization
“We’re not simply constructing robots—we’re constructing a brand new working system for the mushroom business,” stated Michelle Lim, vice chairman of development at 4AG Robotics. “Growers need tech that works out of the field, delivers ROI in below three years, and scales globally. That’s what we’ve constructed. And this funding provides us the gas to maneuver even sooner.”
Buyers assist international growth
Astanor Ventures and Cibus Capital led 4AG Robotics Sequence B spherical. It additionally included assist from new investor Voyager Capital and current buyers InBC, Emmertech, BDC Industrial Innovation Fund, Jim Richardson Household Workplace, Stray Canine Capital, and Seraph Group.
“We imagine that, of all of the agricultural sectors, mushrooms are probably the most poised for robotic options,” stated Harry Briggs, companion at Astanor. “We imagine that 4AG isn’t solely the clear international chief right now, but additionally has the potential, because of AI advances and their wealthy picture knowledge, to drive up yields and cut back inputs throughout the business.”
The funding was Astanor’s first time as a significant companion to 4AG Robotics. Meals capitala number one agri-food tech investor based mostly within the U.Okay., joined the spherical to assist 4AG’s continued growth into Europe and past.
“Mushroom farming presents an unlimited alternative to make the most of robotics and AI to drive labor optimization along with increased yields and improved high quality,” stated Archie Burgess, funding director at Cibus Capital. “The spectacular 4AG crew has already developed a fleet of robots that decide as much as 1 million mushrooms per week.”
