A Night Robot Fights Vineyard Mildew With Light Instead of Fungicide

Saga Robotics' Thorvald robots roll through vineyards and strawberry fields at night, zapping powdery mildew with UV-C light so growers can spray far less fungicide. In 2026 the robots are protecting about 2,500 acres of California vineyards and an estimated 30% of the UK's tabletop strawberry crop, and TIME has named Thorvald one of its Best Inventions of 2026.