Robotic harvesters, advanced sensors, pollinator attractants, an online market place to reduce waste, and decision support systems for improved traceability and productivity – are among the technologies to be presented by members of Agri-Tech East, in an exciting new Innovation Insights feature at Fruit Focus, 17th July 2019, East Malling Research Centre.
Innovation Insights at Fruit Focus
This will be the first time that the Agri-Tech East has had a presence at Fruit Focus.
“Last year we took Innovation Insights to Cereals and the format – lightning presentations of a wide range of emerging technologies – proved very popular with farmers and growers,” explains Belinda Clarke, Director of Agri-Tech East. “The networking session was animated and provided an excellent opportunity for people to discuss their particular issues directly with others who might have a solution.
“Industry input is vital to ensure that emerging technologies are fit for purpose and our members are looking forward to gaining this input and a better understanding of the issues that growers are facing.”
Fruit Focus is the leading technical event for producers of soft and orchard fruit and vines. It is attended by about 2,000 growers and industry professionals. Limited free tickets are available for members; please contact us for the discount code.
Speakers at the Fruit Focus Innovation Insights include:
- Consus Fresh has developed an intelligent software-based system to reduce the burden of audits, improve efficiency and increase productivity.
- Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology (LIAT), a world leading university developing cutting-edge technologies for agriculture and horticulture, will be showcasing their latest thinking around novel glasshouse design for fruit production.
- Prodata Weather Systems is a specialist UK supplier of cost-effective weather-monitoring equipment.
- Hutchinsons is a leading agronomy company and provides advice independent of manufacturers and supported by an in-house research and development programme.
- Soil Moisture Sense provides complete weather stations including sensors for soil moisture, soil temperature, air temperature, relative humidity, light and rain.
- Timac Agro is a specialist in plant and animal nutrition with extensive expertise in crop nutrition, soil conditioning and fertiliser efficiency.
- University of Essex has one of the UK’s leading plant productivity research groups.
- Cambridge Consultants creates and delivers breakthrough products and services. It has recently developed Mamut, an autonomous robot for harvesting.
- Weather Logistics specialises in climate impacts using seasonal forecasting techniques.
- Natural Resources Institute (University of Greenwich) offers wide-ranging expertise including post-harvest handling of perishable produce, quantification of post-harvest losses, food safety, grain storage, and market economics.
Fruit Focus 2019 is to be held at NIAB EMR (previously East Malling Research Centre), New Road, East Malling, Kent, ME19 6BJ.