FIRA USA ag robotics show to feature more tech

FIRA USA 2025, the agricultural robotics show, is returning to northern California and will feature bigger focuses on tree nuts and berries.

Scheduled for Oct. 21-23 at the Yolo County Fairgrounds in Woodland, California, FIRA USA is powering up for what organizers tout as its most dynamic showcase and builds on last year’s record success. 

Keeping with FIRA’s mission to promote agricultural technology adoption across North America, registration is free for growers, according to a news release.

Tree nuts were added to last year’s show, and this year includes a larger focus on berries. 

“The addition of nut trees last year was a strong success, reflecting the growing demand for automation in almonds and other tree nuts,” said Gwendoline Legrand, FIRA co-director. “California growers face significant labor and efficiency challenges, and automation is seen as a key solution to yield management and cost reduction.”

Taking place at the Yolo County Fair Grounds, FIRA USA 2025 will showcase a range of autonomous solutions addressing today’s critical labor shortages and profitability challenges — from commercially available equipment already operating in fields to innovative prototypes nearing market readiness. The event will feature a diverse spectrum of technologies, offering adaptable and varied field conditions for growers to evaluate both current and emerging autonomous agricultural equipment, according to the release. 

Leading agricultural producers from across the country and abroad have confirmed their participation in the 2025 event, emphasizing the growing adoption of robotics and autonomous systems in commercial farming operations.

The show’s demonstration area will also include Agtonomy’s autonomous platforms, Farm-ng’s electric equipment and NIQO Robotics’ vision systems, among many other solutions supporting every stage from planting to harvest, according to the release.

“The expanded demonstration area will showcase a wide range of cutting-edge robotics advancing specialty crop production,” according to the release.

For fruit orchards, Smart Apply’s intelligent spray control systems, and GUSS’ autonomous orchard sprayers will be on display. 

In vegetable production, Stout robots will demonstrate precision weeding and cultivating capabilities, working alongside Naïo Technologies’ specialized weeding robots and Verdant Robotics’ multi-action field robots to showcase advanced cultivation techniques. 

“FIRA has made a great job opening the doors by combining all the technologies that are available in our space in one key venue,” Josh Roberts, vice president global ag development at Taylor Farms, Salinas, California, said in the release. “That event drives the synergy and that focus on agtech for a little amount of time.”

The 2025 edition will maintain the successful format with distinct experiences, together with the showcase of the latest innovations of the industry during three days: 

• The Industry Experience — Open Innovation Day on October 21, featuring startup pitch competitions, followed by two days of deployment strategies, business models and market integration insights.
• The Industry Experience — Open Innovation Day on October 21, featuring startup pitch competitions, followed by two days of deployment strategies, business models and market integration insights.
• The Growers Experience — Sector-specific roundtables with producer case studies and extensive field demonstrations allowing hands-on testing of robotic solutions for vineyards, orchards, vegetables and field crops.
• The Manufacturers Experience — Prior event California Ag Robotics Discovery Tour through innovative farms visit, plus exclusive VIP networking sessions connecting manufacturers directly with leading growers.

“We’re building on the momentum from our previous editions to create an even more impactful event in 2025,” Legrand said in the release. “With our expanded demonstration capabilities at the Yolo County Fairgrounds, this year’s FIRA USA will showcase proven autonomous solutions tackling today’s labor and profitability challenges.”