Transformational automation – agri-robotics gaining traction

Agri-robotics and automation are potentially transformational to help improve efficiency and safety and help tackle the widespread issues around labour in the industry. But what is still needed to help the UK’s innovation pipeline realise its full potential and become routinely deployed in commercial settings? And, crucially, by when?

A new report into robotics and automation in horticulture has recently been published by Defra.

Led by Prof Simon Pearson from the University of Lincoln, with contributions from across the industry, the review outlines the journey to widespread adoption and exploitation of these technologies across horticulture.

The report has helped whet our appetite for our Member Exclusive event in September where we’ll be hosted by the senior innovation team at G’s Fresh to network, learn and compete in the Agri-TechE Salad Rig Challenge – more of which later.

UK agri-robotics in the field

The good new is that the UK’s agricultural robotics expertise is emerging and vibrant. In the Agri-TechE network we have companies such as Small Robot Company, Muddy Machines and Antobot that are developing commercial services and working with farmers in the field.

You may also remember Dogtooth Robotics and Crop Hopper from the REAP conference Start-Up Showcases in 2016 and 2019 respectively.

Many of the companies have been successful in raising finance from eager investors (indeed Muddy Machines has just closed a major round led by Regenerate Ventures). The potential for return on investment is likely to be greatest where the cost of automation is low, or the crops are high value.

Obstacles for wide scale adoption

The more sobering news is that more time is needed to get some of these solutions into widespread commercial adoption.  The review calls for efforts to develop the future training and skills pipeline to address issues such as the lack of skills to help maintain and manage the machines.

Other recommendations include:

• Focussed effort around robotic crop harvesting solutions
• Review of the funding available to support agricultural automation
• Creation of a cross-industry consortium to accelerate knowledge transfer, enhance collaboration and improve adoption on farms
• Convening a working group to consider and share best practice
• Better representation of those involved in agricultural robotics on working groups associated with wider regulation across the industry.

None of this will be fast – in fact it is likely to be 2030 before much of this is impacting on farms.

But in the shorter-term, the review advocates a Long-Term Seasonal Workers Scheme to help farm businesses secure the necessary human labour in the edible and ornamental horticulture sectors as we transition into a more widespread use of automation.

As Louise Liddiard, Head of Marketing at Schneider Electric, reflected: “The use of robotics and automation within the horticulture industry, can help overcome current labour and sustainability challenges. This could be as simple as sensors for environmental monitoring to Delta Robots for efficient pick and packing processes. The key is to utilise the next generation of automation to accelerate growth while reducing the waste of produce and energy.”

G’s Fresh discusses the harvesting challenge 

The need for greater automation in lettuce harvesting is discussed by Anthony Gardiner, G’s Fresh in an interview ahead of our Member Exclusive event on 13^th September, where there will an opportunity for an immersive experience on the rig and to walk a mile (or maybe less!) in the shoes of a business heavily reliant on human labour.

Expect discussions around the future of the industry, the route of adoption of new technology, innovation pathways for farm businesses and even some insights into conservation agriculture.