Publish Date : 02.09.20

‘World’s First Robotic Farm’ aimed to be delivered by 2025 in UK.

ATM NEWS NETWORK - Consortium formed by Saga Robotics, global leaders in robotics technology, the University of Lincoln (Europe’s largest academic research centre on agri-robotics), University of Reading (knowledge exchange and economic evaluation specialists), Manufacturing Technology Center Limited, Berry Gardens Growers, BT, and Clock House Farm Ltd (leader in the soft and stone fruit growing sector) is about to receive funding of £2.5m under Innovate UK to create ‘World’s First Robotic Farm’.

This project is named as ‘Robot Highways’. The project is key to industry sustainability by reducing sector reliance on full time & seasonal labour required during harvesting & on-farm packing. Estimating a 40% reduction in labour, It will provide solutions for moving the sector towards a carbon zero future. With an estimated 20% reduction in fruit waste, 90% reduction in fungicide use, a huge reduction in the use of fossil fuel across all farm logistic operations, and a 15% increase in farm productivity.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies will be harnessed, and crucial improvements will be made to telecommunications infrastructure in rural settings. Promoters of the project are also analyzing the economic impact of robotic farming technology to assess what benefits are possible by engaging with grower communities, policy-makers, and tech developers to ensure that any solutions that are developed are co-designed and will be suitable for use out in the field.