Agri-TechE joins new national hub to accelerate robotics adoption across agri-food

Agri-TechE is announced as consortium partner in HARVEST (Hub for Agri-food Robotics Validation, Engineering and Skills Translation), a new national robotics adoption hub led by the University of Lincoln and funded through Innovate UK’s Robotics Adoption Programme.

HARVEST is one of only eight Robotics Adoption Hubs announced today as part of a UK-wide initiative designed to accelerate the uptake of robotics and automation across industry. Focused on agriculture and food manufacturing, the four-year programme will help robotics businesses and end users overcome the barriers that often prevent promising technologies progressing from development to widespread adoption.

Taking a systems approach to commercialisation, HARVEST will support robotics companies to address technical, regulatory and market challenges, while working directly with farmers and food manufacturers to understand and remove barriers to implementation. The programme will also help develop the skills needed to support the future adoption of robotics across the agri-food sector.

Led by the University of Lincoln, the hub will provide access to specialist facilities including a new robotics test track at Riseholme and industry-led Living Labs where technologies can be developed, tested and demonstrated under real-world conditions. A £1 million Acceleration Fund will also support robotics businesses seeking to overcome key challenges to adoption.

Professor Simon Pearson MBE, Founding Director of the Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology and Executive Director of HARVEST, said:

“This funding takes us to the next level on our journey to advance agri-food through cutting-edge robotic solutions, securing support for businesses to overcome technical, commercial, regulatory and workforce challenges by working with the LIAT team and key industry representatives. We welcome the opportunity to lead this sector into the exciting future of food.”

As consortium partner, Agri-TechE will lead knowledge exchange and industry engagement activities, drawing on its extensive network of technology developers, farmers, growers, food businesses, researchers and investors to ensure innovation is shaped by real industry needs and reaches the businesses that can benefit from it.

Becky Dodds, Agri-TechE’s project lead for HARVEST, said:

“Agriculture being successful in an industry-agnostic competition of this scale is true recognition of the work to date in this area, and the potential for automation and robotics to impact agriculture and food manufacturing. 

“There is so much opportunity and expertise in agricultural robotics here in the UK, but support is needed to ensure effective adoption. Agri-TechE and our network are well placed to be part of the team delivering this for UK agriculture and food manufacturing.”

The consortium brings together expertise from across the agri-food robotics ecosystem, including technology developers, producers, research organisations and industry bodies. Several Agri-TechE members are among the 11 project partners, including lead partner University of Lincoln, agri-robotics company Dynium, innovation specialist B-Hive Innovations, and industry partner Dyson Farming Research.

Through the hub, partners will work together to support the development, validation and adoption of robotics and automation technologies that can improve productivity, resilience and sustainability throughout the agri-food supply chain.

Richard Meredith, Head of Farming Research at Dyson Farming said:

“We’re excited to be part of the HARVEST project and contribute Dyson Farming Research’s expertise in independent on-farm trials and evidence generation. One of the biggest challenges facing UK agriculture is turning innovation into real-world impact, and HARVEST brings together the right mix of researchers, technology developers and farmers to do exactly that.

“By testing and demonstrating new approaches under commercial conditions, we hope to generate the evidence needed to give growers confidence in adopting innovation and, ultimately, help build a more productive, resilient and sustainable farming sector.”

HARVEST builds on many years of investment and collaboration in agricultural robotics and will help strengthen the UK’s position as a leader in agri-food innovation, while ensuring that businesses across the supply chain can access the support, facilities and expertise needed to adopt new technologies successfully.