Revolution in the Field: Why Traditional Agriculture Is Doomed

A quiet agritech revolution is unfolding in California's Salinas Valley. Startups FarmNG and Bonsai Robotics are betting on full autonomy for agricultural machinery, promising to overturn centuries-old farming principles. Their approach? No drivers, no dispatchers—just swarms of smart machines governed by artificial intelligence.

FarmNG: A Tractor the Size of a Lawnmower with a Drone's Brain

FarmNG is introducing a radical new equipment class:

•  Compact electric tractors (1.5×1.5 m dimensions)

•  Full autonomy without GPS (using cameras and LiDAR)

•  Modular "Lego-like" design for 50+ operations

The paradox: The smaller the machinery, the higher the efficiency. Mini-tractors operate 24/7 in swarms of 10-15 units, replacing a single massive combine harvester.

Bonsai Robotics: When Algorithms Replace Agronomists

The startup focuses on next-gen computer vision:

•  The system sees each plant individually (not just the field)

•  Distinguishes weeds from crops at a molecular level

•  Makes decisions without cloud computing

Example applications:

✅ Precision fertilizer application for each plant

✅ Disease detection before visible symptoms appear

✅ Water optimization down to the milliliter

Why This Will Disrupt the Market?

1.  Economics: Autonomous systems cut costs by 40-60%

2.  Ecology: Targeted treatment reduces chemicals by 90%

3.  Accessibility: Small farms gain corporate-level technology

But risks remain:

•  Cyberattacks on "smart" fields

•  Mass unemployment among farmworkers

•  Legal challenges with AI decision-making

The Future Is Already Here: Early Results

On test fields:

•  35% higher yields with 50% fewer resources

•  Processing speed 3x faster than human labor

•  Zero downtime due to fatigue

What's Next? By 2030, experts predict:

•  80% of greenhouse operations will switch to autonomy

•  Emergence of first fully robotic farms

•  Agri-robot market worth $50+ billion

But the crucial question remains: Is society ready to entrust food production to algorithms? Farmers are divided—some see salvation, others foresee the end of traditional agriculture.