Lower-carbon parsnips in M&S stores after successful autonomous field trial

According to the retailer, the combination of techniques and technologies used demonstrated a carbon reduction of 47% in the growing phase compared to standard methods. The technology included two robots for bed farming, planting and weeding, two different types of drones to monitor and maintain crop health, and scientific testing on soil health and carbon impact.

The field also included various measures from M&S’s Farming with Nature programme to improve biodiversity of both wildlife and soil. One of these was the introduction of AgriSound technology to monitor pollinator numbers, with specialist listening devices situated on farm.

Through the trial, AgriSound found there was more pollinator activity in the trial field compared to the standard field, demonstrating another environmental benefit to farming this way, the supermarket said.

Read the full article in The Grocer: Lower-carbon parsnips in M&S stores after successful autonomous field trial