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A tech startup in Silicon Valley has drawn about $8 million in seed money to fund creation of a driverless tractor.

Bear Flag Technology, which is inviting pilot customers to try the tractor, is making its case to investors by explaining the machine will alleviate pain caused by a labor shortage and meet production demands as farmers strive to feed a growing world population with limited arable land.

“Imagine a farmer, by the time they wake up at five in the morning, his or her field is already tilled, because the machine can wake up at 2 a.m., decide it’s the right time to do it, and go pick the right implement from the garage or the barn, then till the fields,” said Rohit Sharma, a partner at True Ventures, which is among investors. “By the time the farmer has had their morning coffee, they have accomplished a set of things that prepares them to address more complex, everyday decision-making.”

Igino Cafiero, one of Bear Flag’s founders, said the company intends to sell the driverless tractor through local dealerships with the intent to expand sales.

Sources: CNBC and Tech Crunch