Farmers will test robotic systems due to lack of labor shortage

Around 80,000 agricultural workers are needed annually to pick and pack fresh produce in the UK each year. The uncertainties created by Covid-19 continue to influence seasonal labor supply in this sector.

In this connection, a UK agri-food consortium has been formed to solve the problem of labor shortages by accelerating the use of robotics and automation (R&A) for picking soft fruit and vegetables. The goal is for approved technologies to be manufactured at scale and fully implemented during the 2021 season.

Farmers are set to trial several new robotic systems on farms producing apples, strawberries, blueberries, broccoli and lettuce this season.

Efforts are coordinated by the Manufacturing Technology Centre, University of Lincoln, The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited (NFU), the Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) and Agri-EPI Centre with the support of more than 100 food producers.

Simon Pearson, Professor of Agri-Food Technology at University of Lincoln, said: "We have some very good R&A experts in the UK who have been looking at solutions. We want to get these to industry in a very short time.”

Growers are constantly faced with the problem of accessibility and cost of seasonal labor that has been exacerbated by Covid-19.

Ali Capper, chair of the NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board concluded: “I recommend the consortium for their energy in trying to accelerate the use of robotics in the fruit and veg sectors that brings new solutions forward to British farmers and growers.”

Source: farminguk.com