# Fertilizer-Saving Robots
Upside Robotics Reduces Waste With Solar-Powered Precision Dosing

By Colin Smith | Written with AI assistance | Published 2026-02-12 | Tech
Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/upside-robotics-precision-dosing
References: [techcrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/11/upside-robotics-is-reducing-fertilizer-use-and-waste-in-corn-crops/)

![Fertilizer-Saving Robots](https://cdn.trendhunterstatic.com/thumbs/600/upside-robotics-precision-dosing.jpeg)

Upside Robotics, a Waterloo, Ontario startup, builds lightweight autonomous robots for corn fields, featuring solar power and software that times and measures fertilizer delivery with precision dosing. The founders launched the company in 2024 after testing prototypes and iterating in fields; their system uses weather and soil data to decide when and how much nutrient to apply.

The machines ran on corn in 2025 and the team expanded deployments from 70 acres to 1,200 acres while preparing for broader rollout. Upside’s fourth-generation robots delivered right-sized fertilizer doses and the startup reported helping growers cut fertilizer use by 70% and save about $150 per acre per season. That performance, plus a $7.5M seed round, positions the company to scale into more farms and markets where precision dosing lowers input costs and runoff.

Image Credit: Upside Robotics