SALINAS, CALIF., JULY 9, 2026 – Reservoir today announced its pilot expansion into Arizona with a new location live and operational on October 1, 2026, in time for the fall and winter growing season. Developed in collaboration with the University of Arizona’s Yuma Center for Excellence in Desert Agriculture (YCEDA) and the Yuma Agricultural Center (YAC), Reservoir will extend the company’s on-farm innovation model into one of the nation’s most important specialty crop regions.
By placing the Yuma Agricultural Center at the center of the Arizona effort, Reservoir is strengthening the connection between field research, commercial production and startup development. This expansion builds on a longstanding relationship between the agricultural industries of Salinas and Yuma. Often called Salinas's "sister city," Yuma grows an estimated 90% of the nation's leafy greens during the winter season, from November through March. The collaboration aims to leverage Yuma's critical role in winter vegetable production to test and deploy rugged AI technologies in real-world conditions.
Reservoir is a new rural institution that combines an agricultural innovation platform with a venture capital fund to advance the impact of rugged AI in critical industries, especially agriculture. Reservoir Farms are the world’s first on-farm robotics innovation centers, starting in the Salinas Valley and expanding to other key regions across California and the American West. Reservoir VC backs startups solving real problems in specialty crops that compound to other outdoor industries and across the rugged physical AI stack. By combining R&D space, hands-on grower input, and early-stage capital, Reservoir helps turn promising ideas into tools for the growers who feed the world.
The announcement underscores the growing importance of regional partnerships in agricultural technology. The University of Arizona's YCEDA and YAC will provide access to field trials, research expertise, and a direct line to growers who face unique challenges in desert agriculture. This move is expected to accelerate the adoption of automation and AI in specialty crops, potentially increasing efficiency and sustainability in a region that supplies a significant portion of the nation's winter produce.
For more details, view the full announcement including downloadable images and bios here. Learn more about Reservoir at https://reservoir.co.
