Autonomous robots are growing food in California

SAN CARLOS, Calif. — It looks like something out of a science-fiction novel, but robots in California are growing food in an indoor farm.  The high-tech farm could be a step in feeding people around the world.

Hidden away in a San Carlos warehouse, the robots are growing and harvesting food all on their own.  Brandon Alexander, the CEO of Iron Ox, told KPIX that "This is the world's first production robotic farm."

Alexander was born and bred on old school family farms in Texas and Oklahoma. But his love for robotics pushed him to develop methods for machines to do tedious jobs like seeding, transplanting and harvesting. He says robots could help solve a growing farm labor crisis.

"Our goal is to use technology like robotics and machine learning to be able to grow produce at better quality, more consistently and cheaper," said Alexander. "We can fine-tune like our nutrients."

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Several companies around the world are venturing into autonomous agriculture. But Iron Ox says its technology and methods set it apart. A robotic arm is outfitted with stereoscopic cameras that allow it to see in 3-D and gently work around the tender leaves and stems of young plants.

The plants are all contained in hydroponic pods so they are all grown in water, not soil.  A machine called "Angus" does all the heavy lifting. It rolls on special wheels that rotate forward and backward and side to side.

Iron Ox says its system uses 90 percent less water over traditional farming while growing 30 times the amount of crops per acre of land.

The company is first focusing on salad greens all grown in the warehouse and it's packaging the produce and testing it with local chefs.

"While we are focusing on restaurants initially, we do plan on expanding to grocery stores in 2019," said Alexander.

Although California has easy access to the freshest greens, many parts of the world do not. Iron Ox says with its automated methods, it can produce a delicious salad bowl anywhere.

CNN/KPIX