Daily Archives: February 5, 2022

Recent series large investments into robotics companies, totaling nearly US $1B, could be an early indicator that 2022 will be a banner year for robotics investments. Apex.AIs Jan Becker and Joe Speed are also interviewed.

By RBR Staff | February 3, 2022

Welcome to Episode 67 of The Robot Report Podcast, where each week Robot Report editor Steve Crowe and Mobile Robot Guide editor Mike Oitzman review the latest robotics, automation and intelligent systems news and announcements, and interview leading roboticists, leaders of innovative robotics companies, and other key members of the robotics community.

You can subscribe to The Robot Report Podcast on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, SoundCloud and more. Please subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review!

In Episode 67 of The Robot Report Podcast, Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman discuss the recent series large investments into robotics companies, totaling nearly US $1B. If this trend continues, 2022 may be a record year for investments into robotics-related organizations.

In the featured interview this week, Oitzman speaks with Apex.AI CEO Jan Becker and Joe Speed, the companys VP of Product & Chief Evangelist for the company. They discuss the software and operating system requirements for autonomous vehicles, as well as how Apex.AI contributed to the success of the recent Autonomous Challenge @CES autonomous racing event.

Links from Episode 66 of the Robot Report Podcast:

Speaking OpportunitiesIf you would like to be a guest on an upcoming episode of the podcast, or if you have recommendations for future guests or segment ideas, contact Steve Crowe or Mike Oitzman.

Sponsorship OpportunitiesFor The Robot Report Podcast sponsorship opportunities, please contact Courtney Nagle.

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Does Recent Spate of Large Investments Portend a Banner Year for Robotics? - Robotics Business Review

This story is part of our February 2022 print issue. To subscribe, click here.

Outer space is crowded. Not just with billionaires, but also space junk in orbit: old rocket bodies, defunct satellites, tools and other metal pieces. Davis-based startup Yolo Robotics aims to recycle those scraps in zero gravity.

John Shepard, the startups cofounder and chief technology officer, spent 10 years in Silicon Valley developing high-performance motion control systems in aerospace. In 2021, when NASA put out a call for proposals on how to recycle space debris, he brainstormed with his friend Graham Ryland, who asked, Wouldnt it be cool to shape a blob of molten metal in space?

That question formed the basis for the startup. Ryland, cofounder and CEO of Yolo Robotics, previously worked with Shepard in automation, making robots to harvest food. After receiving a $125,000 grant from NASA for their pitch, the duo bought new test equipment, such as magnetic sensors and vacuum chambers. They built a proof-of-concept machine about the size of a toaster.

The machine works by controlling electromagnetic fields to form programmable molds to cast or extrude the liquid into basic parts, such as ingots, rods and wire for welding or 3D printing. With time, Shepard says, they could add more complexities to these molds and eventually cast 3D parts using electromagnets, but creating manufacturing feedstock is a useful first step for recycling in space.

According to Christopher Kitts, a professor at Santa Clara University where he serves as director of the Robotic Systems Laboratory, space debris threatens the safety of hundreds of spacecraft, which provide a range of daily services from navigation and communications to weather observation.

Shepard was a long-time student of Kitts at SCU. The work they did together had nothing to do with orbital debris, but Shepard was part of the NASA mission control operations that Kitts runs through his lab. He admits he has no financial interest in Yolo Robotics, but recognizes the companys novel approach.

Rather than trying to capture and remove debris from orbit, their work focuses on recycling the debris by melting and reshaping it into useful products while remaining in orbit.

Rather than trying to capture and remove debris from orbit, their work focuses on recycling the debris by melting and reshaping it into useful products while remaining in orbit, Kitts says. The products might be things like fuel for propulsion systems, or perhaps beams for space station-like assemblies.

Most people who talk about space debris approach the growing problem by thinking of ways to capture the pieces, slow them down to bring them back toward Earth (to most likely burn up) or move them to a distant orbit with no other spacecraft, Kitts says. But the idea of repurposing the debris for a useful function instead of removing them from the region makes Yolo Robotics appealing due to its potential.

The concept is very salient because of the increased awareness of space debris and value of materials already in orbit, Shepard says. In addition, we are exploring terrestrial applications for recycling lithium ion batteries and extracting precious metals.

Currently, Shepard and Ryland work out of their garages in collaboration with experts in the field. Yolo Robotics is looking to raise $2 million this year to accelerate the innovation.

I hear everybody talk about de-orbiting space junk, Ryland says, but I really hope that 10 to 15 years from now, we dont look back and see this as a wasted opportunity to turn material into something useful for humanity.

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Startup of the Month: Yolo Robotics - Comstock's Magazine

The waning gibbous Moon is pictured above the Earths horizon from the International Space Station.

Life science, robotics and space construction kept the Expedition 66 crew busy aboard the International Space Station on Wednesday. The orbital residents also worked on spacesuits and inspected a Russian module.

Eye checks continued on the orbiting lab with NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn taking charge as crew medical officer during the afternoon. The three-time station astronaut used medical imaging gear, or optical coherence tomography, to scan the eyes and retinas of NASA Flight Engineers Kayla Barron and Raja Chari.

Marshburn began his day studying how to produce and maintain nutrients during long-term space missions. Chari later worked on communications components inside a pair of U.S. spacesuits. Barron started her morning cleaning the Cell Biology Experiment Facility, an incubator with an artificial gravity generator.

NASA Flight Engineer Mark Vande Hei set up the free-flying Astrobee robotic assistants and tested an autonomous rendezvous algorithm for the ROAM technology demonstration. ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer resumed the Concrete Hardening experiment studying potential lunar and planetary construction techniques.

Roscosmos Flight Engineer Pyotr Dubrov photographed the condition of window panes in the Zvezda service module for inspection by engineers on the ground. Station Commander Anton Shkaplerov transferred water from tanks in the ISS Progress 79 resupply ship into the space station.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on Twitter, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

Get weekly video highlights at: http://jscfeatures.jsc.nasa.gov/videoupdate/

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Health, Robotics and Construction Research on Station Today - NASA

ST Robotics has been making robot arms for 30 years The company is now developing autonomous robots for crop harvesting, i.e. a robot to harvest asparagus. It is also about to start a project for picking grapes. Both these systems need a vision system that can recognize the asparagus spears or bunches of grapes and harvest them the way a human being would do. This is a completely different approach from farm machines with rotating blades and so on pulled by tractors. Such techniques are unsuitable for delicate crops like asparagus that can only be picked by the human or robot hand.

Another example is the Dogtooth robot that picks strawberries. ST Robotics licensed the R12 robot arm to them to get them started. They are now going on to large-scale production.

A Dogtooth strawberry picking 'team' / Image: ST Robotics

Like ST's Asparacut the Dogtooth robots rely on sophisticated vision with multiple cameras. Dogtooth and others may use GPS. ST's approach is more like a spacecraft (I can't reveal how we do that due to IP confidentiality). It means our robot can navigate down between asparagus beds or rows of vines. The intelligent suspension keeps the robot level.

Source: roboticstomorrow.com

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ST Robotics is working on the next generation of robots - hortidaily.com

[92 Pages Report] Welding Robotics Market Insights 2022 This report contains market size and forecasts of Welding Robotics in China, including the following market information:

China Welding Robotics Market Revenue, 2016-2021, 2022-2027, (USD millions)

China Welding Robotics Market Sales, 2016-2021, 2022-2027, (K Units)

China top five Welding Robotics companies in 2020 (%)

The global Welding Robotics market size is expected to growth from USD million in 2020 to USD million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of % during 2021-2027.

The China Welding Robotics market was valued at USD million in 2020 and is projected to reach USD million by 2027, at a CAGR of % during the forecast period.

The Research has surveyed the Welding Robotics manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and industry experts on this industry, involving the sales, revenue, demand, price change, product type, recent development and plan, industry trends, drivers, challenges, obstacles, and potential risks.

Get a Sample PDF of report https://www.360researchreports.com/enquiry/request-sample/19469159

Leading key players of Welding Robotics Market are

Welding Robotics Market Type Segment Analysis (Market size available for years 2022-2027, Consumption Volume, Average Price, Revenue, Market Share and Trend 2015-2027): Gas Welding Robots, Arc Welding Robots, Laser Welding Robots, Spot Welding Robots

Regions that are expected to dominate the Welding Robotics market are North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa and others

If you have any question on this report or if you are looking for any specific Segment, Application, Region or any other custom requirements, then Connect with an expert for customization of Report.

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(New Report) Welding Robotics Market In 2022 : The Increasing use in Heavy Machinery, Electrical And Electronics, Metal Processing, Aerospace, Process...

[114 Pages Report] Defense Robotics Market Insights 2022 Most of the countries utilize the defense robotic system or are in the process of acquiring or building the technology to incorporate into military programs. These robots are used in form of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned group vehicles (UGVs) and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). Unmanned group vehicles are robots that move on wheels or tracks and perform the function of sentry duties and examine the potential hostile location. Unmanned aerial vehicles are essentially remotely controlled or automated robots. The use of all these robotic system includes same purpose of replacing or supplementing human in battlefield situations. Deployment of autonomous or semi autonomous robotic system in the battle field helps in improving the military efficiency, operational performance and accuracy.

North America is the most technological advanced region in defense robotic system and Asia Pacific represents a strong opportunity due to the availability of technology in countries including China, Japan and India.

Market Analysis and Insights: Global Defense Robotics Market

The global Defense Robotics market was valued at USD 16620 million in 2020 and it is expected to reach USD 27410 million by the end of 2027, growing at a CAGR of 7.3% during 2021-2027.

Global Defense Robotics Market: Drivers and Restrains

The research report has incorporated the analysis of different factors that augment the markets growth. It constitutes trends, restraints, and drivers that transform the market in either a positive or negative manner. This section also provides the scope of different segments and applications that can potentially influence the market in the future. The detailed information is based on current trends and historic milestones. This section also provides an analysis of the volume of production about the global market and about each type from 2016 to 2027. This section mentions the volume of production by region from 2016 to 2027. Pricing analysis is included in the report according to each type from the year 2016 to 2027, manufacturer from 2016 to 2021, region from 2016 to 2021, and global price from 2016 to 2027.

A thorough evaluation of the restrains included in the report portrays the contrast to drivers and gives room for strategic planning. Factors that overshadow the market growth are pivotal as they can be understood to devise different bends for getting hold of the lucrative opportunities that are present in the ever-growing market. Additionally, insights into market experts opinions have been taken to understand the market better.

Global Defense Robotics Market: Segment Analysis

The research report includes specific segments by region (country), by manufacturers, by Type and by Application. Each type provides information about the production during the forecast period of 2016 to 2027. by Application segment also provides consumption during the forecast period of 2016 to 2027. Understanding the segments helps in identifying the importance of different factors that aid the market growth.

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Leading key players of Defense Robotics Market are

Defense Robotics Market Type Segment Analysis (Market size available for years 2022-2027, Consumption Volume, Average Price, Revenue, Market Share and Trend 2015-2027): Autonomous, Human Operated

Regions that are expected to dominate the Defense Robotics market are North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa and others

If you have any question on this report or if you are looking for any specific Segment, Application, Region or any other custom requirements, then Connect with an expert for customization of Report.

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(New Report) Defense Robotics Market In 2022 : The Increasing use in Firefighting, Search and Rescue, Transportation, Mine Clearance, Intelligence,...

Surgical Robotics System Market 2022-2027:

The Global Surgical Robotics System market exhibits comprehensive information that is a valuable source of insightful data for business strategists during the decade 2017-2027. On the basis of historical data, Surgical Robotics System market report provides key segments and their sub-segments, revenue and demand & supply data. Considering technological breakthroughs of the market Surgical Robotics System industry is likely to appear as a commendable platform for emerging Surgical Robotics System market investors.

The complete value chain and downstream and upstream essentials are scrutinized in this report. Essential trends like globalization, growth progress boost fragmentation regulation & ecological concerns. This Market report covers technical data, manufacturing plants analysis, and raw material sources analysis of Surgical Robotics System Industry as well as explains which product has the highest penetration, their profit margins, and R & D status. The report makes future projections based on the analysis of the subdivision of the market which includes the global market size by product category, end-user application, and various regions.

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Topmost Leading Manufacturer Covered in this report:Intuitive Surgical, Virtual Incision Corporation, TransEnterix Surgical, Medrobotics, Auris Surgical Robotics, Titan Medical, Restoration Robotics, Medtech, THINK Surgical, Verb Surgical

Product Segment Analysis: Type IType II

On the Basis of Application:HospitalsAmbulatory Surgical Centers

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Regional Analysis For Surgical Robotics SystemMarket

North America(the United States, Canada, and Mexico)Europe(Germany, France, UK, Russia, and Italy)Asia-Pacific(China, Japan, Korea, India, and Southeast Asia)South America(Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, etc.)The Middle East and Africa(Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa)

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Surgical Robotics System Market growth Possibilities, Analysis and Forecast To 2027 Cleveland Sports Zone - Cleveland Sports Zone

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Sarcos Technology and Robotics (NASDAQ: STRC) may have only been listed on the U.S. stock exchange for the first time in 2021, but this robotics company has been in business for 30 years. Having initially started at the University of Utah, the company went on to engineer devices for the U.S. government before recently branching out into the private sector. Through its many connections and backings from blue-chip corporations, the company is well placed to secure its future in an industry that continues to shape the very future of business.

We will take a closer look at the company's recent listing on the NASDAQ and what this means for investors. If anything, one can argue a bullish outlook on the company's future, though the timing may be critical in just how profitable such an investment could be.

investor.sarcos.com

Sarcos Technology and Robotics started in bioengineering in 1983, working principally as a research institution. It was not long after that it began to attend to the market's needs before it started working on exoskeletons for the military. The company operated as a robotics division for Raytheon, a principal U.S. defense contractor, from 2007 to 2014, before being acquired by a private consortium backed by huge names such as Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT). During the company's time working for U.S. government agencies, it began engineering humanoid exoskeletons that were meant to improve complex military operations. In the past, Sarcos has also developed technologies for NASA, the Department of Homeland Security, and other governmental departments.

The Guardian XO suit. (investor.sarcos.com)

Sarcos has developed multiple variations of exoskeletons and robots seeking to assist human labor in industrial environments by providing the capacity to work with heavy loads in otherwise dangerous surroundings. The company has 230 patents to secure its grip on the market. One such product is the Guardian XO exoskeleton robot, a full-body exoskeleton built for private industry and military defense and capable of increasing an operator's productivity while ensuring safety during operations. The Guardian XO was named one of Time magazine's "Best Inventions of 2020" and should be commercially available from 2022.

The robotics market continues to grow and was recently highlighted by the pandemic, when these machines were utilized for cleaning and disinfection, further proving their usefulness. As of 2021, the global robotics market was valued at $55.8 billion and is expected to register a compound annual growth rate of 10.5% by 2026, totaling an estimated $91.8 billion. As the necessity to continually utilize machinery to supplement human labor increases, companies invested in this future that can blend experience and technological adaptability are bound to thrive, and Sarcos fits those criteria nicely. While we see an unprecedented number of workers leaving the workplace, a rise of capable machines might alleviate the pressure on industrial companies as they seek to ramp up production in a post-vaccinated world. Sarcos claims its battery-powered devices provide the working capacity of three human workers, which more than accounts for the current rate of employees quitting their jobs.

Sarcos announced a merger early in 2021 with Rotor Acquisition Corp, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) founded in 2021. In September, the SPAC deal took effect when Sarcos received a private investment in public equity worth $220 million from various groups, including Palantir (NYSE: PLTR), Schlumberger (NYSE:SLB), and Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT). SPACs have become increasingly famous, as 2021 saw over $160 billion raised from these "blank-check" companies. Initial public offering investors should always be skeptical about companies involved in these sorts of deals, as previous information about the company is not made public. However, the Sarcos Q3 balance sheet reported $240 million in cash and equivalents, which is deemed enough for the commercial release of its Guardian XO industrial exoskeleton and Guardian (XT) industrial robotic avatar system. Sarcos also reported a pre-revenue of $1.1 million in Q3, while its total estimated market value is over $1 billion. While estimates in share appreciation vary, the more moderate consensus is a projected 22.5% increase. A financial analyst for Jeffries, Stephen Volkmann, predicts a possible 141% appreciation in the coming year. However, take that with a grain of salt as commercialization has not yet begun. Although everything indicates success in 2022, specific issues such as the global supply chain crisis could delay production and shipping, as they did in 2021. Some losses were reported in Q3, with a total net loss of $37 million, though this comes after increasing expenses from $8.4 million to $41.6 million in 12 months, leading up to the acquisition. This is to be expected as public sales have not yet begun. Sarcos may also see profits from 2023, as their first models to be commercialized are set for release at the end of 2022.

investor.sarcos.com

Sarcos is seeking to aid the workforce by augmenting human labor with machinery, which will let workers handle up to 200 pounds while safeguarding against occupational hazards. The company intends to facilitate the transition process for many companies interested in their products by charging $25 per hour, or $100,000 per year, through their Robot-as-a-Service (RAAS) model. The return of investment is calculated to be much higher, given the amount of productivity each item can increase, all while mitigating the potential damage of a reduced workforce. An estimated 16 million people stand to benefit from augmentation such as robotic exoskeletons, with Sarcos targeting the $15 billion serviceable obtainable U.S. market. The company is also targeting a minimum of 22,500 units by 2025.

Seeing as the market is set to grow exponentially, Sarcos finds itself well placed in an emerging and crucial need. In January, the company announced that they completed the beta version of the Guardian XT, a dual-armed dexterous teleoperated robot capable of multiple maintenance and logistics needs in otherwise dangerous environments. The successful beta version by the end of 2021 means things are on track for commercialization in 2022. While there may not be much historical data for investors to work on, the sheer backing of the company by blue-chip names should inspire enough confidence in Sarcos, enabling them to navigate the growing market.

Aside from the mechanics of their robots, which provide operators a considerable amount of dexterity and safety, products such as the Guardian XT are also equipped with software that allows for features such as motion capture. Continued investment into the company can be expected over the coming years through its connections and backing with large corporations and the U.S. government. An increase in earnings will almost certainly accompany an increase in revenue.

While the global economy continues to recover from the pandemic, advancing technology has never proved to be more crucial as the sure way to sustain economies and drive markets through tough times. Investors are offered very few opportunities to get in at the beginning of what promises to be a decades-long journey. For Sarcos investors, looking to the robotics company in the long-term might be more advisable, but it would come as no surprise to see substantial returns in investment after a year or two. After all, Sarcos is setting itself up to be a player in the 4th Industrial Revolution.

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Sarcos Technology and Robotics: A Player In The Fourth Industrial Revolution - Seeking Alpha

People often ask me about the real-life potential for inhumane, merciless systems like Hal 9000 or the Terminator to destroy our society.

Growing up in Belgium and away from Hollywood, my initial impressions of robots were not so violent. In retrospect, my early positive affiliations with robots likely fueled my drive to build machines to make our everyday lives more enjoyable. Robots working alongside humans to manage day-to-day mundane tasks was a world I wanted to help create.

Now, many years later, after emigrating to the United States, finishing my PhD under Andrew Ng, starting the Berkeley Robot Learning Lab, and co-founding Covariant, Im convinced that robots are becoming sophisticated enough to be the allies and helpful teammates that I hoped for as a child.

Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are leading to the emergence of a new class of robot. These are machines that go beyond the traditional bots running preprogrammed motions; these are robots that can see, learn, think, and react to their surroundings.

While we may not personally witness or interact with robots directly in our daily lives, there will be a day over the next five years in which our households and workplaces are dependent upon the role of robots to run smoothly. Here are a few standout examples, drawn from some of my guests on The Robot Brains Podcast.

After spending months in Africa and South America talking to medical and disaster relief providers, Keenan Wyrobek foresaw how AI-powered drone technology could make a positive impact. He started Zipline, which provides drones to handle important and dangerous deliveries. Now shipping one ton of products a day, the company is helping communities in need by using robots to accomplish critical deliveries (theyre even delivering in parts of the US).

Recycling is one of the most important activities we can do for a healthier planet. However, its a massive undertaking. Consider that each human being produces almost 5 lbs of waste a day and there are 7.8 billion of us. The real challenge comes in with second sortingthe separation process applied once the easy-to-sort materials have been filtered. Matanya Horowitz sat down with me to explain how AMP Robotics helps facilities across the globe save and reuse valuable materials that are worth billions of dollars but were traditionally lost to landfills.

Marc Segura of ABB, a robotics firm started in 1988, shared real stories from warehouses across the globe in which robots are managing jobs that have high-accident rates or long-term health consequences for humans. With robots that are strong enough to lift one-ton cars with just one arm, and other robots that can build delicate computer chips (a task that can cause long-term vision impairments for a person), there are a whole range of machines handling tasks not fit for humans.

Long before covid-19 started calling our attention to the overworked nature of being a healthcare worker, Andrea Thomas of Diligent Robotsnoticed the issue. She spoke with me about the inspiration for designing Moxi, a nurse helper. Now being used in Dallas hospitals, the robots help clinical staff with tasks that dont involve interacting with patients. Nurses have reported lowered stress levels as mundane errands like supply stocking is automatically handled. Moxi is even adding a bit of cheer to patients days as well.

Picking and sorting the harvest is the most time-sensitive and time-consuming task on a farm. Getting it right can make a massive difference to the crops return. I got the chance to speak with AppHarvests Josh Lessing, who built the worlds first cross-crop AI, Virgo, that learned how to pick all different types of produce. Virgo can switch between vastly different shapes, densities, and growth scenarios, meaning one day it can pick tomatoes, the next cucumbers, and after that, strawberries. Virgo currently operates at the AppHarvest greenhouses in Kentucky to grow non-GMO, chemical-free produce.

Collaborating with software-driven co-workers is no longer the future; its now. Perhaps youve already seen some examples. Youll be seeing a lot more in the decade to come.

Pieter Abbeel is the director of the Berkeley Robot Learning Lab and a co-founder of Covariant, an AI robotics firm. Subscribe to his podcast wherever you like to listen.

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UC Berkeley's Pieter Abbeel on how robots will change the world - Quartz

Innovation in agriculture can increase production during harvesting and may lead to an increased role for robot technology, a speaker said Thursday at an ag forum in Santa Maria.

About 140 people attended the Northern Santa Barbara County Economic Alliance ag forum with the theme Agriculture: The Future in Focus" at the Santa Maria Radisson Hotel.

Walt Duflock, vice president of innovation at the Western Growers Association,said innovation led to the development of high-rise broccoli featuring longer stalks andmaking it easier forrobots and humans to harvest.

Really cool stuff, he said, adding that a field trial in Salinas showed a boost in production. People harvesters like it. Robot harvesters like it.

Robotics has a role in agriculture, including weeding, digging, planting and harvesting, but the industry might have to be patient as the technology and business model develop.

The Western Growers Associationrecognized that startup companies for ag technology will need support, leading the organization to build tools to help fledgling firms.

We want to give them a stack of Legos where they can reuse 80% of the stuff off the shelf, customize 10% of that, and build an initial, brand-new 10% of that, he said. So the off-the-shelf stuff saves them time, saves them money, de-risks their operation.

One firm has created a small robotic vehicle to carry boxes of table grapes to the truck so the workers can continue picking fruit in the vineyard.

This is where ag tech can go it can make the labor you have more efficient, allow them to do other things when theyre not picking, Duflock said.

Increased use of robots in ag also will mean changes for the next-generation ag worker, he added.

One thing is clear: If all of these robots are in all of these fields, someone is going to need to work on them, fix them and build the next generation, Duflock said.

He also spoke about controlled environment agriculture, or CEA, such as vertical farming and greenhouses, contending both provide a massive threat to growers and a massive opportunity.

Nearly $3 billion has been invested in controlled environment ag.

If the opportunity shows up correctly, its things like Driscolls turning seasonable berries into year-round berries, he added.

But the threat comes from this growing method, setting the stage for large deals with big-box stores.

Were watching CEA with interest and were trying to help the growers understand the opportunity and understand the threat, he said. I expect more investment in CEA. I also expect a lot of dead bodies. All that money is not going to land right. Theres just too much of it.

Although the ag industry continues to lose workers, it has seen an increase in productivity despite the smaller workforce.

How were we able to grow 170% more food with all those people going away? he asked. In a word innovation.

Earlier Thursday morning, Lottie Martin from the Santa Barbara County Ag Commissioners Office recapped the 2020 crop report and provided anupdate on operations, sharing that in recent months they have provided personal protective equipment and hand sanitizer to the industry.

Martin alsoreminded the ag community that her office recently sent forms to fill out information for the countys next crop report.

The crop report is super important, she said, adding that it's a critical tool in many ways, including for obtaining loans.

The ag forum also included panel discussions on ag innovation and issues and recognizedhuman resources and safety staff who have borne the brunt of COVID-19 precautions, protocols and challenges.

Blong Xiong, state executive director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture California Farm Service Agency, delivered the keynote address at lunch.

Innovative Produces George Adam, who hails from a multi-generational farming family, reminded those in the audience about the need to advocate for the ag industry.

I know that a lot of the advocates are in this room, but we need to go out and preach that to everyone else thats not inthis room, Adam said. We need a whole community of advocates because as we know it doesnt take very many people to get a momentum going the other way.

Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.

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Robotics, Innovation in Agriculture Could Help Solve Industry Challenges, Speaker Says - Noozhawk