Agriculture is at a crossroads. Rising costs—especially from labor—are squeezing margins. Yet food prices aren’t keeping pace, leaving farmers to make difficult tradeoffs that too often come at the expense of food quality and environmentally sound practices. If we want healthier food, more resilient farms, and a more sustainable planet, innovation is not optional—it’s essential.
At Bonsai, we believe autonomy is the unlock. By bringing intelligent, accessible robotics to the field, farmers gain the freedom to pursue practices that are both better for the earth and better for the bottom line. Autonomy enables farmers to grow healthier crops, adopt regenerative methods, and reimagine what’s possible on their land.
That is why we are proud to continue to sponsor the Farm Robotics Challenge.
The Challenge is more than a competition. It’s an invitation to be part of a movement—one where engineers, developers, and students from around the world come together to apply their creativity to one of humanity’s most important problems: how we grow our food. It’s a chance to learn agriculture, robotics, and systems thinking in a real-world setting, while joining a global community of innovators who believe technology should serve both people and the planet.
The results of this work matter. Student teams aren’t just building prototypes; they’re generating insights and solutions that can make our food systems more robust—improving quality, protecting ecological health, and helping farmers thrive. Few projects offer the chance to have such a direct and lasting impact on humanity.
And this year, we’re raising the stakes. Because of how critical this work is, Bonsai is offering new incentives:
For students who take part, the reward is bigger than any prize. You’ll walk away with real-world experience to add to your portfolio and knowing you’ve contributed to something that truly matters: reshaping the way humanity feeds itself, and proving that robotics and AI can empower—not replace—the farmers who sustain us. We invite you to join us. Bring your skills, your creativity, and your passion. Together, we can plant the seeds of a new agricultural future—one that is smarter, fairer, and stronger for generations to come.
Be part of something bigger. Enter the Farm Robotics Challenge today.
Brendan Dowdle is the Chief Business Officer of Bonsai Robotics.
