Chipotle invests $50M in ag robotics, climate-smart fertilizer
Chipotle Mexican Grill says it has invested in Greenfield Robotics, a company leveraging artificial intelligence, robotics and sensing technologies, and Nitricity, a company producing fertilizer without carbon emissions.
Chipotle made these minority investments through its $50 million Cultivate Next venture fund, which makes early-stage investments in companies aligned with its mission and growth plans, according to a news release.
Greenfield Robotics, which currently deploys its technology in broadacre crops to cut weeds between rows, said it will use the investment to expand its capabilities with autonomous solutions for microspraying, cover-crop planting and soil testing.
"The work of Greenfield Robotics to build out a tech-forward alternative to herbicides plays an important role in ensuring a more sustainable future for the agricultural industry," Curt Garner, chief customer and technology officer for Chipotle, said in the release. "We will help Greenfield Robotics scale their robotic offerings and explore how their robots can be deployed on farms within our supply chain."
Nitricity uses artificial lightning to create a more sustainable and cost-efficient fertilizer, according to the release. The release from Chipotle notes Nitricity's nitrogen fertilizer has five to 10 times less greenhouse gas emissions.
Nitricity started field trials of its fertilizer with farmers in California's Salinas Valley and Chipotle suppliers in the region. The company said the investment from Chipotle will help build out infrastructure and support the launch of its first commercial product.
"Fertilizers have experienced steep price increases in recent years due to supply chain issues, fossil fuel price volatility, and rising distribution costs,” Jack Hartung, chief financial and administrative officer with Chipotle, said in the release. “Nitricity's fertilizer offering not only has the potential to reduce the carbon footprint of the fertilizer industry, but it can be a cost-effective solution for growers in our supply chain."
