The winners form part of TIME’s broader 2026 Best Inventions ranking, which highlights 300 products and ideas the publication believes are making the world “better, smarter and more fun”.
TIME described the agriculture category as highlighting technologies that are “transforming farming, crop cultivation, and animal rearing”.
Among the winners is BioLumic, whose xTraits platform improves crop performance through light-activated trait development in seeds. TIME highlighted the technology for “giving crops a stronger start”, underscoring growing interest in seed innovations that can boost productivity and resilience amid climate pressures.
Farm automation was represented by Burro Grande 44, which TIME described as an “all-purpose farm robot”. The recognition comes as agricultural robotics developers seek to address labour shortages and rising labour costs globally. CEO Charlie Andersen told TIME: “When you have a robot running around carrying the fruit people pick back to central points, each person is 30% more productive.”
In the pollinator health space, Beewise Robi was selected for its use of automation and artificial intelligence in beekeeping. TIME said the technology reflects growing efforts to improve hive management and strengthen pollination services that underpin food production.
Circular economy innovation also featured prominently. 2nd Nature AgWaste Portal was recognised for using artificial intelligence to unlock value from agricultural waste streams, with TIME describing the platform as providing “a second life for scraps”. The company says the platform helps identify commercially valuable compounds in agricultural side streams and food industry waste.
Meanwhile, Saga Robotics earned a place on the list for its disease-control robotics platform. The autonomous robot, Thorvald, uses ultraviolet light treatments in vineyards and other specialty crops as an alternative to conventional crop protection approaches. In 2026 Thorvald is treating an estimated 30% of the UK’s tabletop strawberry production and around 2,500 acres of California vineyards.
Rounding out the category was VunaNexus Aurin, a fertiliser product derived from recycled human urine. TIME described the innovation as “garden fertiliser from urine”, highlighting the interest in nutrient recovery technologies as the agriculture sector seeks more sustainable sources of essential crop nutrients.
Winners were selected from nominations submitted by the publication’s editors, correspondents and applicants worldwide. Technologies were evaluated based on criteria including originality, efficacy, ambition and impact.
Agriculture winners in TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026
- BioLumic xTraits (crop genetics/seed innovation)
- Burro Grande 44 (farm automation)
- Beewise Robi (pollination and biodiversity)
- 2nd Nature AgWaste Portal (AI and circular economy)
- Saga Robotics Thorvald (robotics and crop protection)
- VunaNexus Aurin (recycled nutrients)
