FIRA USA 2026 closed its Pacific Northwest version after three days that put agricultural robotics and AgTech in entrance of the growers who want them. From Oct. 20 to 22, greater than 2,500 contributors from 20 nations, together with over 600 growers, attended stay robotic demonstrations, and excursions of native farms and check plots. After California (2022-2025) and Washington (2026), FIRA USA will proceed its journey in 2027.
FIRA USA 2026 as soon as once more proved its worth as a working platform the place agricultural innovation meets the growers who carry it to the fields; by transferring to a brand new area annually, GOFAR turns each version into a place to begin for lasting collaboration amongst farmers, expertise suppliers, and traders, properly past the three days. The end result: growers arrived with concrete gear plans, turning three days of demonstrations into actual adoption selections within the subject.
FIRA goes the place innovation is required in fields
“We don’t consider innovation ought to look ahead to farmers to return to it. We consider innovation should go the place it’s wanted,” mentioned Aymeric Barthes, President, GOFAR.
FIRA turned a touring occasion so innovation goes the place it’s wanted: after 4 years in California, the 2026 U.S. version came about in Yakima (WA), bringing robots to PNW growers.
In each area, GOFAR research native challenges, identifies helpful applied sciences, and connects farmers, expertise suppliers, and traders, energetic immediately on three continents. FIRA can be constructed for CEOs and product groups: a spot to satisfy their friends, change on real-world challenges, and refine their merchandise in order that they match what the market expects, within the subject, at scale, and on the proper worth.
The 2026 version confirmed the touring occasion mannequin as the suitable regional response to fashionable farming’s various realities.
Why the PNW area mattered
PNW is likely one of the U.S.’s most various and high-value specialty crop hubs—orchards, hops, vineyards, potatoes, onions, berries—going through acute labor shortages and on the lookout for options that match their scale.
The turnout confirmed it: greater than 2,500 contributors, together with over 600 growers, innovators from 20 nations (almost 70% AgTech, gear and robotics). Over half the farms exceed 1,000 acres (almost 10% over 15,000); greater than one-third of growers current are already investing in robotics, and over 80% see an pressing want for automation in spraying, irrigation and harvesting.
“Yakima isn’t just a venue, it’s a good testing floor: large-scale industrial farms, high-value crops, and the suitable circumstances to run significant demonstrations of ROI and scalability,” mentioned Maialen Cazenave, Co-Director, GOFAR – FIRA USA.
The Pacific Northwest AgTech ecosystem now joins the broader GOFAR community, additional reinforcing GOFAR’s place because the world’s largest agricultural robotics neighborhood.
“I need to thank GOFAR for bringing FIRA USA to the Yakima Valley. This occasion has ignited the lengthy lasting growth of the ag-tech business in our area and past,” highlighted Jonathan Smith, Govt Director of Yakima County Improvement Affiliation.
FIRA USA 2026 was co-organized by GOFAR, Yakima County Authorities, the Yakima County Improvement Affiliation, with assist from the Washington Tree Fruit Analysis Fee and the WSU School of Agricultural, Human, and Pure Useful resource Sciences.
What’s subsequent
FIRA USA strikes to Florida in 2027, in partnership with the College of Florida and hosted on the UF/IFAS Institute for Agricultural Innovation. A devoted press launch with particulars on the Florida version, together with dates, programming, and participation alternatives, will comply with. GOFAR is energetic on three continents and in discussions to increase to 5, constructing regional ecosystems that keep energetic properly after every occasion strikes on.
