Farm Robotics Challenge

Registration Opens on August 1st

The Challenge

The Farm Robotics Challenge, organized by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources and the AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems, with support from technology partner Farm-ng, is an annual competition that invites college-level student teams to tackle real-world agricultural problems using advanced robotics.

Teams are challenged to develop innovative solutions for on-farm issues by leveraging robotic platforms equipped with autonomous navigation, artificial intelligence, and specialized attachments. Projects address a broad spectrum of production agriculture topics, including planting, weeding, harvesting, pest management, as well as mapping and data collection.

Entries are evaluated on criteria such as technical accuracy, design innovation, safety, system complexity, interdisciplinary collaboration, societal benefit, and commercial viability.

  • Assemble a group of motivated students with various technical skills. Teams can be a mix of undergraduate and graduate students, but no more than 50% graduate students. Teams need an advisor, typically a faculty member or staff member.

  • Work with a grower to identify a problem in agriculture that can be addressed using AI, automation, and robotics. Design a solution, field test your results, submit your innovation to the competition.

  • The challenge empowers students to spearhead technological innovation in agriculture. Participants develop in-demand job skills, expand their professional networks, and compete for recognition, exciting prizes, and travel stipends to attend the prestigious FIRA USA ag tech conference in California. Check out last year’s winners and get inspired to make your mark!

  • We envision the Challenge as only the beginning of your venture’s success. Leverage our extensive network to connect with the people and opportunities that will help you transform your prototype into a thriving, market-ready solution.

Key Dates & Deadlines

2026 Competition

Milestone Date
Registration Opens August 1, 2025
Team Formation & Proposal Research Period August - October
Project Proposals Due October 30, 2025
Development & Testing Period November 2025 - April 2026
Final Projects Due April 30, 2026
Awards Ceremony May 14, 2026