The Little Things

New In Ag-Tech

Deere’s Robots Cure Labor Shortage 

John Deere has unveiled an all-electric, autonomous commercial-grade robot lawn mower at CESS 2025 that’s poised to redefine landscaping. The mower can run for up to 10 hours without stopping, thanks to its 21.4 kWh battery pack. That is enough time to take care of large fields or several lawns. The mower has eight stereo cameras (two on each side) and can drive on its own while avoiding obstacles, making it great for uneven ground. Something else that makes this mower a game changer for farmers is this; because electric drives don't produce any pollutants or noise, they can be used in the early morning without waking up the neighbors!

What do we stand to gain from this innovation? This mower is a useful way to deal with high turnover and labor gaps in Europe where the rural labor market is limited, especially in landscaping, municipal green spaces, or grassland fodder harvest. Despite a higher initial investment, farmers earn more profits thanks to a reduction in manpower, low maintenance, and fuel expenditures. Mowing grass intercropped with high-value plants, such as vineyards in France or olive groves in Italy, might be made easier using this technology. For example, a farming enterprise could opt for partnerships with universities through university outreach and experiments to further reduce the need for manual labor and compaction.

Early mornings are no issue to robots. Getting work done on the field early in the day aids with pasture preparation and harvesting at different times of the year. In countries that raise cattle like Ireland and Holland, more frequent and precise cuts mean healthier regrowth, better quality hay and seed, and larger yields for feed. It is not just farmers who stand to benefit. Landscape contractors can differentiate their services in France, Italy, and the United Kingdom by offering autonomous maintenance packages for these robot mowers. The best thing is, the localization agenda that Deere is on is fertile ground for such an investment!

It’s been three years since John Deere unveiled its first autonomous tractor. Deere is extending three decades of experimenting with machine-learning and AI technology to more machines that will operate autonomously in the unique and intricate environments in which their customers operate on. An autonomous tractor, an automated lawn mower, a crewless dump truck, and an additional driverless tractor specifically designed for orchards are among the new vehicles that the company will be required to showcase at CESS 2025. The company’s second-generation tractor is built for those farming operations that are so large, they might as well have their own zip code! To make sure you can see everything happening around you, John Deere decided that 16 cameras were just the right amount to slap all over the tractor cab, giving you a triple dose of overlapping feeds. Because who doesn’t want to feel like they’re driving a spaceship while plowing the fields? According to John Deere, its self-driving machines can assist farms deal with labor shortages while simultaneously fulfilling the rising need for food, housing, and infrastructure. It is possible for farmers in France, Italy, Holland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom to future-proof their holdings against labor shortages, climatic limits, and rising cost pressures if they adopt automation.

Less Space, Less Water, More Food

Earth is “shrinking”. The arable land available is limited, so is water. This is why I get so excited about innovations that seek to maximize on limited resources without harming mother-nature. Let’s take the innovation pathway of indoor vertical farming as an example. High energy costs, rudimentary hydroponics, and lack of climate control made early vertical farms financially unviable beyond research or pilot projects. When energy-efficient LEDs, the red and blue spectrum lighting, were discovered, the natural sunlight properties could be replicated at a more affordable price. Next came light formulas catered to various crops and growth phases from companies like Philips GrowWise, Valoya, and Osram. This brought down costs, fastened crop growth cycles, and promoted consistent yields especially for leafy vegetables.

Nowadays, vertical farms feature automated conveyor belts, robotic arms, and sensor-driven nutrient dosing. And with automation, companies save on labor costs. AI is now a buzz-word and vertical farming is also a beneficiary of it. AI-based environmental control systems are used in modern vertical farms to continuously adjust temperature, humidity, CO2, and ventilation. With these systems, water and nutrients get recycled drastically, cutting resource use as compared to traditional agriculture. Such is the case for In Farm in Germany, which uses cloud-based systems to manage decentralized in-store units across cities in Europe. Machine learning algorithms are currently used on farms to forecast plant health, maximize inputs, and stop disease outbreaks. Such technologies enable instantaneous adjustment of operations using real-time data from sensors that measure temperature, light intensity, EC, and pH. Talk about derisking agriculture using precision farming.

A company in the US is on a mission to create a network of sustainable indoor vertical micro-farms for all in an effort to increase food security and economic development. From The Land has been named a finalist at Food Funded, a top event in Berkeley, Carlifornia that showcases groundbreaking food systems and climate solutions and connects visionary businesses with investors who want to make a difference. The innovation, Little Big Farms, are affordable, climate-controlled indoor vertical micro-farms. The Little Big Farms are engineered to withstand extreme weather conditions and powered by renewable energy sources. These indoor farms grow valuable commodities including mushrooms, saffron, and animal feed. They are built to last in harsh climates and are powered by sustainable energy sources. A strong decentralized network makes each $50,000 farm unit more secure for local food, stabilizes income streams, and helps local economies become more resilient.

From The Land, led by CEO Dr. Gina Oliver and co-founder and CTO Richard Hutchison, combines old, established building methods with current technology and deliberate automation to create cost-effective, climate-controlled indoor vertical microfarms. Little Big Farms significantly reduce resource consumption, producing five times more food while utilizing 90% less water. The best thing about this technology is how much it promotes urban food security. Most of the time, the people that need help the most are from urban food deserts with a ballooning population. You can grow food on 1/8 of an acre without using any grid-tied energy, and you don't have to worry about the environmental impact of a big supply chain to get your food to customers. With as little as 10x12-foot plots, owners reap food security and yearly earnings ranging from $10,000 to $60,000 with just a 10-hour weekly commitment. From the Land has shown that its methodology works and can be scaled up through successful paid pilot projects that were funded by more than $300,000 in grants. As Europe strengthens its focus on food resilience, circular economies, and urban sustainability, these Little Big Farms could be the new face of agriculture. It’s the little things that count.

📢 Tweet of The Week

🌎 Out & About

Bye Ozi: Over 45,000 fans flocked to Birmingham, England, this weekend to witness the legendary Ozzy Osbourne take the stage one last time with his band Black Sabbath. Talk about a rock 'n' roll farewell party—who knew the Prince of Darkness had such a loyal fan club? The 76-year-old Osbourne, who bravely announced his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2020, spent a good chunk of the show rocking out from a throne that looked like it was plucked straight from a Halloween party, complete with a bat and some skulls for that extra touch of flair! AP News shares the jest.

Regeneration at FoodTech: Having been at the vanguard of food technology for fifteen years, both in Sweden and around the world, Sweden FoodTech founder Johan Jorgensen handed over the leadership mantle to He now serves in the capacity of strategic advisor to the company. From the look of things, he seems keener on the slow life and a better era for man and nature. He shared this on LinkedIn.

Smart Assets: Before you get excited about getting some tips on investing in some smart farming technology or agricultural stocks, let’s define what smart assets are. Or should I start by clarifying what smart assets are not? Smart assets are not assets that hedge against risk, nor are they climate-smart investments. This has more to do with cryptocurrency. Tokens that represent value or ownership of underlying assets on a blockchain are called smart assets. This underlying asset could be physical, say a combine harvester, or a virtual product such as a patent on a novel product. I hope I wet your appetite for today’s dose of bitcoin bliss. I’d like to refer you to Investopedia for more on how smart assets work.

EU Omnibus: In an open letter, scores of businesses, investors, and industry associations urge EU authorities to preserve essential components of the green finance taxonomy and sustainability reporting regulations as they implement Omnibus 1 simplification proposals. The EU has pledged to cut reporting requirements by 25% for large private companies and 35% for SMEs. Critics of the Omnibus claim that it goes too far, resembles deregulation, and will jeopardize the delivery of the Bloc's green deal goals. EUROSIF has more.

The People Have Spoken: What makes a nation great? Why do you live where you live? People's values often determine where they want to live. For example, they may want to live in a place with good healthcare, education, or a nice climate. But which countries are the best to live in? A survey was done on more than 17,000 people to judge 87 nations across 73 attributes grouped in 10 sub rankings. The respondents had a lot of good things to say about Switzerland, which was rated best country to live in. They ranked Switzerland highly for business (2), quality of life (3), social purpose (7) and cultural influence (8). To be in the race, countries had to achieve certain requirements for GDP, tourism, migratory patterns, and evaluations of quality of living, and foreign direct investment (FDI). Find out the 40 best countries in the world according to People

Working With What We Have: Imagine growing enough food to feed an entire village—not on sprawling acres, but in the modest space behind your home. That’s exactly what this inspiring Ugandan farmer achieved, proving that passion, creativity, and small-scale farming can deliver big results. What new ideas could make this work even better in European peri-urban gardens and rooftops? Let’s watch and learn on YouTube.

Tradition and Triumph in Northern Ireland: Thousands of people in Northern Ireland remember the Battle of the Boyne, which took place in 1690, every year on July 12. This day, known as "The Twelfth," is very important to Protestants and Unionists. They celebrate it with parades, bonfires, flags, and band concerts. But it's also a day that brings up a lot of historical issues, especially in Northern Ireland, where there are a lot of sectarian groups. Want to know where this all started, read more on Royal Signals

Turkey Livestock Markets Close: All livestock markets, fairs, and animal exchanges in Turkey have been temporarily stopped by authorities in reaction to the increasing foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. The new SAT1 strain has triggered stronger limitations on animal movement and expanded vaccination campaigns, even though immunization efforts had greatly reduced foot-and-mouth disease cases—by 80% in 2024 compared to the previous year. Find out more on AGDAILY.

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