# Automated Robotic Farms Iron Ox Farms Yields Massive Amounts of Leafy Greens By Justin Lam | Published 2018-10-16 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/iron-ox References: [digitaltrends](https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/iron-ox-opens-first-automated-farm/) & [ironox](http://ironox.com/) Founded by a former [Google](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/landscape-restoration) software engineer, the Iron Ox Farm is staffed almost exclusively by robots and aims to produced leafy greens at a rate of 26,000 heads per year. Occupying an 8,000-square-foot indoor facility, the mechanical farm may seem small compared to large outdoor farms, but it still manages to yield large crops through smart technology. Firstly, Iron Ox functions as a [hydroponics farm](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/advanced-indoor-farming). This method of farming replaces the soil with mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent. Secondly, the farm utilizes a [1,000-pound robot](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/agriculture-robot) known as Angus. Angus primarily handles the tending of the crop with precise mechanical accuracy. Ultimately, Iron Ox farms aims to modernize the farming industry in a way that is more efficient, uses less space and produces food in a more eco-friendly way. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.7/10 - Popularity: 96% | Activity: 96% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Automated Robotic Farms:** Automated robotic farms are revolutionizing the farming industry by increasing efficiency, reducing space requirements, and promoting eco-friendly practices. - **Hydroponics Farming:** Hydroponics farming is disrupting traditional soil-based agriculture by replacing it with mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent, allowing for higher crop yield and better resource management. - **Robot-assisted Crop Tending:** Robot-assisted crop tending, exemplified by the use of the 1,000-pound robot Angus at Iron Ox Farm, demonstrates the potential for precise and efficient agricultural automation, reducing labor costs and improving crop quality. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Farming:** The farming industry stands to benefit from the adoption of automated robotic farms, as it enables higher productivity, reduces labor costs, and promotes sustainable practices. - **Agtech:** The AgTech industry can capitalize on the trend of hydroponics farming by developing innovative solutions for nutrient management, water conservation, and controlled environment agriculture. - **Robotics and Automation:** The robotics and automation industry can explore opportunities in robot-assisted crop tending, creating advanced machines for precision farming, reducing manual labor, and increasing agricultural productivity. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Automated Farming Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/farming-robots.md) - [App Controlled Indoor Gardens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hydroponic-farm.md) - [Automated Commercial Kitchen Gardens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/instafarm.md) - [AI-Powered Farming Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/farm-automation-platform.md) - [Precision Robotic Weeding Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/weeding-service.md) - [Smart Indoor Farming Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-farming-ai-robots.md) - [Enclosed Vertical Farms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eco-1.md) - [Sensor-Guided Fertilizer Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fertilizer-robot.md) - [AI-Powered Autonomous Planters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gardyn.md)