Humanoid Robots and the Agricultural Revolution: Where the World Stands in 2026

Global agriculture is entering an era of deep automation. Robots are already working in fields and greenhouses, and the next technological wave is humanoid robots capable of performing a broad range of tasks in environments designed for humans.

In 2025, investments in humanoid robotics exceeded $12 billion, up 40% from the previous year. This is no longer laboratory experimentation but a global technological race. Apptronik raised $520 million, including investment from John Deere. Figure AI is valued at approximately $39 billion. Hyundai has announced plans to produce up to 30,000 humanoids annually by 2028. In China, more than 140 companies operate in robotics, and over 10,000 humanoid robots were sold in 2025.

Worldwide, between 250 and 300 companies develop agricultural robotics. Of these, 40 to 60 already have established commercial sales. Fewer than ten companies are currently working specifically on humanoid solutions for agriculture, meaning the technology is still in an early stage.

United States: Automation with Measurable Returns

The United States leads in commercial deployment.

John Deere autonomous tractors allow one operator to supervise multiple machines simultaneously, reducing labor needs by 30–50%. On large farms, this can save tens of thousands of dollars per season.

Carbon Robotics’ laser weeders eliminate up to 200,000 weeds per hour. They can replace 8 to 10 seasonal workers and reduce herbicide use by 70–90%. Farmers in California report savings of $400–600 per hectare in chemicals and labor, with payback typically achieved within two to three seasons.

FarmWise robots in vegetable farming can replace 6 to 8 workers in weeding operations, cutting labor costs by 20–40%.

Large farm sizes, high labor costs, and strong venture capital support explain U.S. leadership.

Netherlands: Automated Greenhouses

The Netherlands is a global center for greenhouse automation.

The Sweeper robot, developed by Wageningen University & Research, harvests tomatoes with near-human precision. Automation in greenhouses can increase yields by 10–20% through precise climate control and reduce labor costs by 25–35%. On a 10-hectare greenhouse operation, this can mean hundreds of thousands of euros in annual savings.

Japan: Robots Replacing Aging Labor

Japan faces a shortage of young farmers. Kubota autonomous tractors allow one operator to perform work that previously required two people. Strawberry-harvesting robots improve picking efficiency by 15–20% and reduce reliance on seasonal workers.

China: Speed and Scale

China is rapidly scaling robotics development. More than 140 companies operate in the sector, and over 10,000 humanoids were sold in 2025. Companies such as Unitree Robotics are developing increasingly advanced humanoid platforms.

Mass production is helping reduce costs and accelerate adoption.

France and Switzerland: Precision Agriculture

Naïo Technologies develops autonomous robots for vineyards and vegetable crops. Their use can reduce manual weeding costs by up to 50% and significantly decrease chemical inputs.

Swiss company Ecorobotix developed the ARA precision spraying system, reducing chemical usage by up to 70%, lowering costs and improving sustainability.

Humanoid Robots: The Next Step

Apptronik is developing the humanoid Apollo with investment from John Deere. Although currently aimed at logistics and manufacturing, its architecture could eventually be adapted for agricultural tasks such as sorting, packaging, greenhouse operations, and livestock support.

The key advantage of humanoids is their ability to operate in human-designed environments without infrastructure redesign.

Expected timeline:2024–2026: expansion of specialized agricultural robots.2027–2032: first humanoids in controlled environments such as greenhouses.2030s: broader adoption.

Hyundai’s plan to produce up to 30,000 humanoids per year by 2028 could significantly lower costs.

Spain: Cautious Optimism

In Andalusia and Murcia, robots are being tested for strawberry and tomato harvesting. Spanish farmers show interest but carefully evaluate return on investment.

The prevailing view is clear: if a robot pays for itself within three to four years and reduces dependence on seasonal labor, it is worth purchasing.

A Light-Hearted Note

“I bought a weeding robot.”“How does it work?”“Great. Yesterday it stopped in the middle of the field… it was studying a rare weed and looked ready to write a dissertation.”

Conclusion

Agriculture has entered an accelerated phase of automation. Billions in investment, hundreds of companies, and thousands of machines in operation show that the shift is irreversible.

Humanoid robots are not yet mainstream, but economic logic—labor shortages, rising wages, and the need for precision—makes their arrival a matter of time.

Farmers will remain central. But increasingly, they will work alongside autonomous partners.