How TRIC Robotics Is Reducing Pesticide Use on Strawberries with UV Light
Strawberries are beloved across the U.S., but they come with a hidden cost: high pesticide use. In fact, they routinely top the Dirty Dozen list from the Environmental Working Group due to their heavy pesticide contamination. As more consumers demand pesticide-free produce and regulations tighten, farmers are looking for innovative, eco-friendly solutions. That’s where TRIC Robotics comes in. Using UV light to reduce pesticide use on strawberries, this California-based startup is redefining how crops are protected—without harmful chemicals. With robotic automation, sustainable farming, and data-driven technology all rolled into one, TRIC Robotics is offering a new path forward for the agriculture industry.
Image Credits:TRIC Robotics
Revolutionizing Farming with UV Light Robots
TRIC Robotics, headquartered in San Luis Obispo, California, has developed a fleet of tractor-sized autonomous robots that deploy UV-C light—a powerful form of ultraviolet radiation not typically found at ground level due to atmospheric filtering. These robots treat strawberry fields at night, using the UV-C light to kill harmful pathogens and pests such as powdery mildew, mites, and mold spores. Unlike conventional pesticide sprays, this light-based treatment leaves no chemical residue, making it a safer option for both consumers and farm workers.
But the innovation doesn’t stop there. The robots also use integrated vacuums to suck up insects and pest debris without damaging delicate strawberry plants. This non-invasive method reduces the need for both synthetic pesticides and labor-intensive manual removal. TRIC’s robotic platform is designed to autonomously cover up to 100 acres, making it scalable for large commercial farms and efficient enough for smaller operators looking to transition to organic or regenerative farming methods.
Why the Service Model Matters in Agricultural Tech
Instead of selling the robots directly to farmers, TRIC Robotics offers a robot-as-a-service model. This strategic choice was based on direct feedback from growers who typically outsource pest and disease control. By offering UV treatments as a service, TRIC aligns its business with the standard agricultural workflow, reducing friction in adoption. Farmers pay per acre, similar to how they’d pay for pesticide spraying, but without the associated health and environmental risks.
According to Adam Stager, TRIC’s co-founder and CEO, this model was a result of careful collaboration with farmers. “We worked a lot with the farmers to understand the right way to launch the technology and what was the right business model,” he explained. By integrating directly into the farmers’ operational cycles, TRIC has not only increased its chances of adoption but also built a feedback loop that allows the company to continuously improve robot performance and service delivery.
This service-based approach also allows TRIC to maintain and upgrade its robot fleet efficiently, ensuring cutting-edge functionality across all farms they serve. It removes the high upfront capital expense barrier that often deters growers from investing in new agtech tools, especially in an industry known for tight margins and unpredictable returns.
From Tactical Robots to Sustainable Agriculture: TRIC’s Pivot Story
Interestingly, TRIC Robotics didn’t start with agriculture in mind. The company began in 2017 as a robotics research venture focused on building 3D-printed robots for SWAT teams. But in 2020, following the completion of his PhD in robotics, Adam Stager shifted gears toward a more impactful and scalable mission: sustainable farming. The idea of using robotic UV light technology to reduce chemical dependency in food production aligned with his broader goals of social impact and environmental health.
The pivot was timely. With growing pressure on the agricultural sector to reduce its carbon footprint and minimize toxic runoff, TRIC’s tech offered a tangible, proven method to address both issues. Early field trials demonstrated that UV-C treatments could match or even outperform traditional pesticides in pest control outcomes. Moreover, growers reported improved soil health and reduced input costs, making TRIC’s value proposition even stronger.
As TRIC continues to expand its reach, its story highlights a broader shift in the agricultural tech ecosystem—from hardware sales to service-based models, from chemical-heavy methods to sustainable solutions, and from engineering for defense to engineering for food security. The UV light robots aren't just machines; they're a glimpse into the future of farming.
The Future of Pesticide-Free Strawberries Starts with TRIC Robotics
The path to pesticide-free produce doesn't have to be paved with expensive inputs or radical operational changes. Thanks to TRIC Robotics, farmers now have access to a cleaner, more sustainable, and scalable solution using UV light to reduce pesticide use on strawberries. By combining cutting-edge robotics with an adaptable business model, TRIC is helping the agriculture industry meet consumer demand for healthier, more environmentally friendly produce—without compromising crop yields or profits.
This innovative approach represents more than just a technological win; it's a transformation in how we think about food production, crop protection, and climate-smart farming. As TRIC Robotics continues to grow, its success story serves as a compelling example of how science, sustainability, and entrepreneurship can intersect to deliver meaningful impact in the fields—and on our plates.
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