The Reservoir, in partnership with Tanimura & Antle, has secured a 40-acre farmland lease in Salinas, California, to establish Reservoir Farms, a nonprofit on-farm startup incubator. This initiative is set to become a world-class hub for developing scalable, farmer-driven technology solutions in agriculture. Located near Silicon Valley, the site is ideal for testing next-generation agtech solutions, given its history of cultivating specialty crops like strawberries, leafy greens, and vegetables.
Reservoir Farms aims to incubate startups, pilot robotics and automation technologies, and promote sustainable agricultural practices. The collaboration with Tanimura & Antle ensures that agtech innovation is directly connected to farmland, accelerating the delivery of real-world solutions. The initiative reflects a shared commitment to addressing labor shortages, reducing input costs, and improving crop yields through technology.
The project will initially allocate 10 acres for test plots, focusing on strawberries, leafy greens, and vegetables, with plans to expand as operations scale. This effort is expected to support over 50 new companies within five years, create more than 500 jobs, and foster workforce development in high-tech agriculture. Reservoir Farms represents a significant step towards enhancing food security, environmental sustainability, and rural economic development in the Salinas Valley and beyond.
