By Gerelyn Terzo, Global AgInvesting Media
John Deere is renowned for its iconic green tractors that have powered farms for generations, and now the agricultural giant is channeling its efforts into high-value crops (HVCs). The company has entered into a strategic partnership with the Reservoir, a California-based on-farm incubator platform that connects grower networks with technology R&D to accelerate innovation in specialty crop production. The Reservoir’s mission is to help growers overcome on-farm challenges, particularly labor shortages and efficiency pressures while building long-term resilience with fewer resources.
The Reservoir Founder Danny Bernstein posted on LinkedIn, “Simply put, John Deere is a dream partner. They bring world-class technology, a network of authentic relationships, and deep commitment to specialty crops into our on-farm incubator platform. Startups working with the Reservoir will have ready access to Deere’s technology, and growers will see new solutions tested and scaled faster in the field. This is a big step for agtech and for the specialty crop (produce) sector.”
Under the agreement, John Deere becomes the exclusive original equipment manufacturer for the Reservoir, securing branding rights at its Salinas, California facility in addition to any future sites. In return, Deere gains early access to promising startups, joint R&D opportunities and field demonstrations, ensuring it remains closely tied to the next wave of agricultural technology.
The collaboration brings together Deere’s precision agriculture and automation expertise with the Reservoir’s on-farm R&D platform and grower network. By linking Deere’s technology pipeline with a community of startups and producers, the initiative aims to accelerate commercialization and strengthen the competitiveness of high-value crops, starting with California.
John Deere Business Integration Manager Sean Sundberg stated, “We view high-value crops as an important growth area for agriculture, and an area where innovation is needed and can have a direct, measurable impact on growers’ resilience and productivity. This partnership gives us a front-row seat to the next generation of agricultural technology, and an opportunity to work alongside growers and entrepreneurs to ensure future solutions are practical, scalable and built to last.”
The Reservoir’s Bernstein also commented, “At the Reservoir, we’re focused on accelerating innovation for HVCs and the long-term sustainability of California agriculture. John Deere brings trusted technology, technical expertise and a real commitment to grower support and strength. This partnership strengthens the foundation we’re building and helps unlock the next generation of ag technology in service of our food system.”
As growers in California’s Salinas Valley contend with labor shortages and efficiency pressures, the Deere/Reservoir partnership sets a model for others in the HVC arena to emulate. Deere brings scale and technical depth, while the Reservoir provides an on-farm testing ground and grower network, together creating a pathway to develop and scale technologies aimed at easing food production challenges.
This move reinforces John Deere’s broader commitment to U.S. agricultural innovation, including its promise to invest more than $20 billion in domestic manufacturing over the coming decade. As high-value crops continue to represent a dynamic growth opportunity, partnerships like this one are expected to drive more resilient, tech-enabled farming practices that deliver benefits for producers, investors and the food system at large.
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