Chipotle Mexican Grill has unveiled its strategic investments in GREENFIELD ROBOTICS and NITRICITY through its $50 million CULTIVATE NEXT venture fund. GREENFIELD ROBOTICS focuses on revolutionizing regenerative farming by utilizing AI, robotics, and sensing technologies to create chemical-free solutions. Their autonomous robots, operational day and night, reduce the reliance on herbicides, promoting sustainable farming practices.
CULTIVATE NEXT’s investment in GREENFIELD ROBOTICS aims to advance the development of autonomous agricultural robots, incorporating features such as micro-spraying, cover crop planting, and soil testing in future iterations.
NITRICITY, on the other hand, pioneers an innovative approach to fertilizer production inspired by natural processes involving lightning and rainwater. By creating artificial lightning with air, water, and renewable energy, NITRICITY produces a cleaner and more sustainable fertilizer. This contrasts with traditional methods like the Haber-Bosch process, which heavily relies on fossil fuels and contributes to significant greenhouse gas emissions.
Funds from CULTIVATE NEXT will enable NITRICITY to scale up nitrogen production, enhance infrastructure, and facilitate the launch of its first commercial product within the next two years. The company is already conducting field trials of its innovative fertilizer with farmers in the Salinas Valley, including Chipotle’s suppliers in the region.
CULTIVATE NEXT, Chipotle’s venture fund, seeks to align with companies that support its mission to “Cultivate a Better World” and accelerate the company’s growth plans. As a people-centric organization, Chipotle aims to enhance the human experience for its restaurant teams and suppliers while improving accessibility and convenience for its customers.