Bonsai Robotics acquires Farm-ng to strengthen autonomous farming platform

Vision-based autonomy firm Bonsai Robotics has acquired agricultural robotics startup Farm-ng in a move aimed at accelerating the deployment of AI-powered solutions across crop management systems. The combination of Bonsai’s perception-driven software with Farm-ng’s modular electric platforms is expected to drive broader adoption of autonomous machinery on farms facing rising labor costs and operational complexity.

Bonsai said the acquisition strengthens its ability to offer “AI-first machines” capable of handling diverse crops and farming environments without reliance on GPS, cellular, or internet connectivity—factors that often limit the scalability of smart farming tools in rugged conditions. The integration also builds on prior field collaborations between the two companies in vineyards, orchards, and bedded crop systems.

“The acquisition allows us to develop the next generation of farm machines that augment human labor and enhance productivity,” said Tyler Niday, CEO and co-founder of Bonsai Robotics. “We are shifting the industry from iron to intelligence.”

Founded in Watsonville, California, Farm-ng is best known for the Amiga, a compact and customizable electric robot used by small and mid-sized farms and research institutions. Its open-architecture design supports a variety of implements and use cases—from crop care to data collection.

Brendan Dowdle, formerly CEO of Farm-ng, will serve as Chief Business Officer of the combined company. “By joining forces, we can move faster, helping growers adopt transformative tools that support their operations and improve their bottom line,” Dowdle said.

The deal also brings notable leadership appointments. John Teeple, former Director of Technology at John Deere, will become Chief Operating Officer. Gary Bradski, a pioneer in computer vision and founder of OpenCV, joins as Chief Science Officer. Both are expected to advance Bonsai’s efforts to deliver reliable autonomy in the variable and unpredictable conditions of real-world farming.

“We’re uniting a world-class engineering team to solve the challenge of integrating hardware, computing and perception for agriculture,” said Ugur Oezdemir, co-founder and CTO of Bonsai.

While financial details of the transaction were not disclosed, the companies confirmed that existing shareholders will retain equity stakes in the new entity.

The acquisition reflects a broader trend in agtech toward integrated, AI-based systems that reduce dependency on traditional machinery and manual labor. As growers confront tightening margins and shifting environmental conditions, companies like Bonsai are positioning autonomy not as a future vision but as a near-term operational necessity.