Defra has published the results of a review exploring how the horticulture sector can make use of innovative technologies such as packhouse automation, AI-enabled robotics and autonomous guided vehicles.
The government will consider the report’s recommendations and publish a response, though industry leaders are already calling for the recommendations to be put in place.
With labour shortages continuing to be a problem for the sector, many of the recommendations from the review attempted to resolve these challenges. These included developing the sector’s skills pipelines and considering ways to attract and retain staff as well as looking into a long-term Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme.
“Our successful horticulture industry is facing unprecedented pressure to step change labour productivity,” said co-chair of the Automation Review, Professor Simon Pearson. “Productivity gain reduces the reliance of the sector on seasonal migrant workers, secures vibrant rural businesses and the flow of high health foods at fair values to consumers.”
The recommendations have been well recieved by industry leaders, who say the proposals could offer “much-needed certainty” for growers.
“However, we are also calling for Defra and the Home Office to not only extend the length of the scheme, but to also increase the number of visas made available,” said Nick Marston, chairman of British Berry Growers. “It is essential that farms have access to the seasonal labour they need to harvest their fruit in the years before such automation is a reality.”
Other recommendations included establishing a consortium that brings together government and industry to drive adoption of proven technologies, adopting a mission-led approach to fast-track new technologies and setting up working groups within the sector to share novel harvest practices and consider how to make the industry more attractive for workers.
“There are opportunities for new robotic technologies to reduce costs and labour requirements in horticulture in the years ahead and this review highlights the potential for this,” said environment secretary George Eustice.
The recommendations have been welcomed by Marston who said they could “set out a path toward automation that will support our berry growers and secure the long-term health of the entire horticulture industry”.
The review brought together experts across horticulture, technology and supporting industries and sought to understand how to accelerate the development and adoption of automation and robotic technologies across the industry.
“The power is now in the hands of government, and we strongly urge whoever steps into No 10 to fully implement the recommendations put forward in the review,” said Marston.
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