California Grape-Harvest Robot Heads to National Ag Innovation Finals

A California ag startup is getting national attention — and a shot at $100,000. Gather Agriculture, Inc., based right here in the Golden State, is one of 10 semi-finalists in the 2026 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. Hosted by the American Farm Bureau Federation with support from Farm Credit, the competition offers $145,000 in total funding for forward-thinking ag ideas.

So what’s Gather Agriculture’s product? We’ve got a link to their demo video at AgInfo.net. The company says their goal is to create easy-to-use robotic tools that fit right into existing farm operations, helping ease today’s labor challenges. This specific robot is built for the grape harvest — moving crops between picker and packer pairs right there in the rows.

“With the world around us changing at a rapid pace, there’s a near-constant need for folks to innovate in the agriculture space. Farmers and ranchers are no stranger to the need to roll up our sleeves and lean into this entrepreneurial spirit,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall.

First-round winners will be announced Sept. 10, with the top four competing live in January at the AFBF Convention in Anaheim, California.