The Reservoir, in collaboration with Tanimura & Antle, has announced a long-term lease for 40 acres of farmland in Salinas, California, to establish Reservoir Farms. This nonprofit on-farm startup incubator aims to become a global hub for scalable, farmer-driven technology solutions. Located at the historical corner of Highway 68 and Hitchcock Road, the site is renowned for its specialty crops, making it an ideal location for innovation in agriculture and technology.
Reservoir Farms is designed as a living laboratory for the development, testing, and demonstration of next-generation agtech solutions. The initiative will focus on incubating startups, piloting robotics and automation technologies, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. By bridging the gap between prototypes and real-world deployment, Reservoir Farms seeks to address generational challenges in agriculture and support inclusive rural economic development.
In partnership with Western Growers, the project will dedicate 10 acres to test plots for startups to innovate in crop cultivation. The goal is to empower local farmers with cutting-edge AgTech innovations, support over 50 new companies within five years, create more than 500 jobs, and advance sustainability in water efficiency, soil health, and environmental stewardship. Brian Antle of Tanimura & Antle emphasized the partnership's potential to enhance productivity, profitability, and sustainability for farms in California and beyond. The groundbreaking for Reservoir Farms is scheduled for late summer 2025, signaling a major advancement in agricultural innovation.
