Six companies to be showcased during demos Dec. 5 in Tulare County
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources’ innovation arm, UC ANR Innovate, in partnership with Farmhand Ventures, has selected six agricultural technology companies for VINE Connect, a statewide commercialization program that helps proven ag tech companies bring their technologies to market through direct engagement with California growers.
The companies will demonstrate their technologies at a VINE Connect Field Day on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, at the UC ANR Lindcove Research and Extension Center in Exeter, Tulare County. Attendees can see the technology in action and engage directly with founders, researchers and growers.
The event is free and open to the public. Space is limited; register to reserve your badge.
This cohort focuses specifically on citrus and tree fruit, including some of California’s most valuable and most vulnerable commodities. California’s citrus growers are contending with rising input costs, tightening water regulations, persistent labor shortages, and mounting pest and disease threats.
While innovative technologies exist to address these issues, many stall before reaching practical, farm-scale use. VINE Connect closes that gap, supporting companies ready to demonstrate measurable impact under real California conditions.
“California growers need solutions that work now, and work under real constraints – that’s what VINE Connect is here to deliver,” said Gabe Youtsey, UC ANR’s chief innovation officer and head of UC ANR Innovate, which operates The VINE platform.
The cohort includes:
Ag-Bee LLC — Spray drone application services and sales, providing FAA-certified precision pesticide application for specialty crops, particularly beneficial for irregular plots and steep terrain where traditional application methods are challenging
CropX — Comprehensive farm management system featuring patented spiral-design soil sensors and ET (evapotranspiration) monitoring, transforming complex data into actionable irrigation recommendations that have proven to reduce water usage by 30% while improving yields
Evolve Genomix — Rapid, field-use molecular diagnostic test kits for plant pathogen detection, delivering DNA-based results in under an hour compared to traditional 2-3 week laboratory turnarounds, with an automated version launching in 12-18 months
HotSpot AG — Tailored irrigation and fertigation automation systems designed specifically for permanent crops, offering remote monitoring and control capabilities that save time, money and resources while operating during off-peak energy hours
Kingman Ag — Autonomous tractor retrofit solutions that transform conventional tractors from any manufacturer into driverless workhorses, reducing fuel consumption by 25-50% and labor costs while maintaining operational flexibility
OnTarget Spray Systems — Electrostatic spraying technology that has focused solely on agricultural applications for decades, reducing water usage by 80% and diesel consumption by 50% while achieving superior coverage through their patented Wraparound Technology™
“Every one of these companies addresses a pain point that keeps growers up at night,” said Hannah Johnson, industry lead at UC ANR Innovate. “They were selected not for their pitch decks, but for their ability to deliver measurable results in actual field conditions.”
Unlike traditional accelerators focused on investor pitches and rapid scaling, VINE Connect emphasizes grower partnerships and field-tested solutions. The intensive program guides startups through working sessions on effective farmer engagement, trial design, and collaboration with commodity boards and research institutions.
The program addresses what UC ANR identifies as the “innovation gap” – the space between technologies that work in theory and those that perform under the intense pressures facing California agriculture, including climate volatility, water limitations, labor shortages and rising compliance costs.
“Ag tech adoption is about trust,” said Connie Bowen, founder of Farmhand Ventures. “We built this program to help companies earn that trust by being prepared, curious and ready to implement farmer feedback early.”
The VINE Connect is a part of a comprehensive platform run by UC ANR’s Office of Innovation and Farmhand Ventures. Created to meet the growing need for practical, industry-driven innovation in California’s agrifood sector, The VINE prioritizes a “market pull” approach, ensuring that technology development is guided by actual needs from the field rather than assumptions.
The platform offers two pathways: VINE Build, which transforms early-stage prototypes into fundable startups with up to $50,000 in equity-based investment, and VINE Connect, designed for companies with commercially available solutions ready to scale.
Selected VINE Connect participants gain access to guided business development courses, field trials, competitive grant funding opportunities, and showcase events connecting them with potential customers and partners.
The Dec. 5 Field Day coincides with Lindcove REC’s annual Fruit Display & Tasting event, where industry members are invited to experience more than 100 varieties of citrus (the public day is Dec. 6).
Register for the Dec. 5 field day at https://LindcoveConnect.eventbrite.com.
