Silicon Valley-based Iron-Ox, Raises $50 Million; Which Develops Robots for Sustainable Farming.

Iron Ox, the Silicon Valley-based developer of agricultural robotic technology, has upraised $50 million in funding returned by Bill Gates's Energy Venture.

FREMONT CA: Like California grapples with another critical draught, a silicon valley startup Iron Ox which considers robots can grow agricultural produce more sustainably, announced that it had upraised $50 million in a funding round led by Bill Gates's improved Energy Ventures.

The company develops robots with hydroponic systems that consume 90% less water than traditional farming methodologies. Iron sets the system to work in a 10000 square foot greenhouse in Gilroy, California. The company has invented a self-driving robot named Grover that moves palettes of Genovese basil and a robotic flexible arm system and lifts the pallets for inspection purposes. In addition, there are sensors allied to the system that inspect the water for nitrogen and acidity levels and check the growth of the plants.

Brandon Alexander (The company CEO) said that the system would support the plant with everything it needs for producing a healthy harvest. Any water that cannot use is sent back into the system to be reused later. Considering that agriculture plays a vital part in California's economy, accompanied by acute water usage, the company assumes that these robots can generate more produce while using minimum water. Iron ox is also building a 535000Sqft greenhouse in Lockhart in Texas.

California's last major dry period between 2012 and 2017 had cut irrigation for farmers, enforced household conservation proceedings, and stocked deadly wildfires across the state. The round of funding involved investors from Crosslink Capital, Pathbreaker Ventures, and R7 Partners, among the others. Overall the repeated occurrence of drought, raging wildfires, and climate crisis, Iron Ox's robot solutions will whirl the agriculture industry towards sustainability, foster innovation across the sector, and attract the interests of several tech innovators. The association with Bill Gates has been considered for the company's growth so far.