Napa Valley, CA — October 9, 2025 — Scout, the vineyard intelligence platform built by and for growers, announced today that its Scout Gen5 technology has been named to TIME’s list of the Best Inventions of 2025, which features 300 innovations transforming the way we live, work, and connect with the world.
Each year, TIME’s editors evaluate thousands of submissions across industries, considering originality, efficacy, ambition, and impact. The 2025 list highlights breakthroughs in healthcare, sustainability, AI, and agriculture, recognizing inventions that are shaping a better future.
The Modern Farmer’s Eye: Grower-Centric Innovation
Scout was founded on a simple idea—the farmer’s eye is the best sensor in the field. Our mission is to scale that intuition and experience for the decades ahead. Scout delivers clarity and confidence through AI that sees and analyzes what humans can’t, and empowers what they can, so every vineyard and every vintage can reach its full potential.
Created by UC Davis researchers, growers, and technologists, Scout drives innovation that improves efficiency, enhances quality, and protects the heritage of the world’s great vineyard sites. Scout helps growers see, measure, and act with precision, boosting vineyard performance and operational efficiency.
Over the past three years, Scout has been deployed across some of California’s most celebrated vineyards.
“Scout Gen5 was built side-by-side with some of the best vinegrowers who are stewards of the finest vineyards in the world,” said Kia Behnia, CEO of Scout. “Our customers didn’t just adopt the Scout platform—they helped shape it. This recognition from TIME honors not only the Scout team’s innovation, but also the growers and partners who pushed us to make it better, season after season.”
Helping Vineyards Thrive in an Era of Change
Scout Gen5 delivers vine-by-vine intelligence, helping growers see beyond the surface. With AI-powered insights into yield forecasting, vine health, and resource efficiency, Scout enables vineyard managers to make smarter, more sustainable, and more profitable decisions.
By blending technology with tradition, Scout helps vineyards meet the challenges of climate uncertainty, labor shortages, and evolving market demands, while safeguarding the craft and legacy of vinegrowing for generations to come. By merging human insight with AI and computer vision, Scout transforms how growers see, measure, and act—preserving the wisdom of the farmer while amplifying it through technology built for the future of agriculture.
About Scout
Scout is an AI-supported vineyard management platform designed in partnership with leading growers and winemakers. Founded on the belief that innovation should always serve those who work the land, Scout helps vineyard teams transform data into action, reduce risks, and unlock greater efficiency across their operations. Scout is headquartered in Napa Valley, CA, where the team continues to collaborate closely with the community that inspired its creation.
See the full list of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025 here:
