John Deere has entered into a strategic partnership with The Reservoir, a California-based agricultural technology incubator, to accelerate innovation in high-value crop (HVC) production.
The collaboration combines John Deere’s world-class agricultural machinery, precision Ag tools, and grower relationships with The Reservoir’s network of startups, field-testing facilities, and commercialisation support.
Together, the partners aim to deliver new solutions to help specialty crop growers overcome challenges such as labor shortages, improve efficiency, and boost long-term sustainability.
“High-value crops represent a critical growth area for agriculture where innovation can have a measurable impact on resilience and productivity,” said Sean Sundberg, John Deere’s business integration manager. “This partnership gives us a front-row seat to the next wave of agtech and allows us to work with growers and entrepreneurs to ensure new solutions are scalable and built to last.”
As part of the agreement, John Deere will serve as the exclusive original equipment manufacturer at The Reservoir.
The company will gain access to early-stage startups, joint R&D opportunities, and curated field demonstrations, while also benefiting from branding opportunities across The Reservoir’s Salinas Valley hub and future locations.
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Industry leaders say the move strengthens California’s agricultural technology landscape. “John Deere’s investment in The Reservoir is a vital step to ensure specialty crop growers can stay competitive despite widespread labor shortages,” said Walt Duflock, senior vice president of innovation at Western Growers.
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The partnership unites Deere’s advanced automation and precision agriculture capabilities with The Reservoir’s real-world R&D infrastructure. By connecting startups, growers, and technologists in production environments, the collaboration is expected to fast-track scalable solutions for specialty crop farming in California and beyond.
“At The Reservoir, our mission is to accelerate high-value crop innovation and ensure the sustainability of California agriculture,” said CEO Danny Bernstein. “John Deere brings trusted technology and a real commitment to grower success. Together, we’re laying the foundation for the next generation of agtech that strengthens our food system.”
Founded in 2024, The Reservoir supports agtech startups through field-based research, robotics incubation, and venture funding. The collaboration with John Deere aligns with Deere’s wider plan to invest more than $20 billion in U.S. manufacturing over the next decade, reinforcing its leadership in agricultural innovation while creating high-quality jobs.
