Re-Imagining the Tractor in the Shape of a Champagne Flute

automation with manufacturers like John Deere introducing both automated tractors and robotic accessories to improve efficiencies in both fertilizing and spraying crops. Another example is the third-party company Sabanto, which just announced a new “autonomy retrofit kit” for Kubota’s line of M5 tractors, which are popular with orchardists and vineyard managers. While John Deere is focused on bigger tractors for its automation drive, Sabanto sees a market for small tractors that are less expensive to buy and operate, and that reduce compaction in the field.

“We are completely disrupting the way the industry views autonomous equipment, and we are bringing in partners who share our vision,” says Craig Rupp, founder and CEO of Sabanto. “We see a future of smaller, smarter, lighter, less expensive, and more sustainable swarms of autonomous equipment that will enable users to cover more ground with less.”

Kubota itself is about to become the first Japanese manufacturer to release an electric-powered tractor. In April this year, Kubota will make its first wave of the new LXe261 electric tractor available for rental service in various regions across Europe, which is currently drafting tough laws to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture and landscaping. The initial run of tractors is primarily aimed toward cities that use the small tractors for park maintenance and green space management.

Kubota is also working with Tesla co-found- er Ian Wright on a line of farming robots specifically for vineyards. These robots will move through vineyards autonomously, trimming branches and eventually handling the harvesting as well.

Another development that caught our eye was an entirely new type of tractor called The Straddle Tractor Concept from New Holland. The futuristic Straddle Tractor is designed to tackle the demanding constraints posed by narrow vineyards even on steep slopes, and is built to be ready for electric traction.

The design is so novel, it just won the gold medal for Excellent Product Design at the German Design Awards 2023; more proof that while other sectors might get the headlines, agriculture is leading the way in sustainable innovation.

Straddle

Concept, is specifically designed to meet the requirements of the narrow vineyards with grapes grown in rows less than one and a half meters wide, often on steep slopes and on small vineyards.