Alphabet is abandoning its Mineral robo-agriculture startup
Mineral’s autonomous “plant buggies” could find a new home via licenses with former industry partnerships. | Image: Alphabet
Alphabet is reportedly walking away from its Mineral robotic agriculture startup due to fierce industry competition and slim profit margins. According to Bloomberg, the Google parent company will license some of its farming technology to Driscoll’s, a berry producer that’s spent the last few years working with autonomous “plant buggies” Mineral created to study crops, soil, and other environmental factors.
Bloomberg says it’s obtained a memo in which Mineral announced plans to transfer its technology “out to the agriculture ecosystem to maximize the impact of bringing our AI to agriculture” and confirms that “Mineral will no longer be an Alphabet company.” Licensing discussions are reportedly taking place with companies that previously...