By Brian Lynch , PhD , Vineland ’s Director of Horticultural Technology Solutions :
" We know growers face important challenges with cost and availability of skilled British Labour Party . We ’ve seen amazing technological advancements in information processing system , vision , AI and robotics mate with ever - increasing potentiality and continuously minify component cost . And the AgTech ecosystem is adding novel members offering all kinds of new technologies at an impressive charge per unit .
But , what we do n’t yet see are golem everywhere on farm , in orchards and in greenhouses . Mechanization has established a secure position in agriculture and industrial - panache automation has a good presence in the pre - planting and post - harvest home space . So why do n’t we see more golem ?
There are technological challenge when it comes to replace or augment human Labour . And a few companies have solution that seem worthy for perform many job . So , where are the robots ?
In 2023 , Vineland interviewed 26 stakeholder in the horticultural automation industry to well understand their perspective on challenges and opportunities . And we learned that the two master reasons for growers not dramatize automation are return on investment and trust .
return on investment drive virtually all decision - devising when it get along to technology adoption ( with timbre , restroom , environmental impact and other minor concerns sprinkled in ) . ROI is a balance between cost and public presentation — your technology ask to do the job well at a reasonable toll . We also hear that raiser overwhelmingly see AgTech equipment as a capital expenditure . Ongoing monthly subscription payments are a hard sell ( although not necessarily unacceptable ) . Technology has to be substance abuser - friendly , not subject to unceasing updates , as well as easily serviceable .
Trust is another major factor : rely that the technology does what it ’s hypothesise to , trust that it wo n’t cause catastrophic damage to the crop , hope that it ’s not just another empty promise .
Do n’t calculate on a embarrassment of added - economic value features . Make your engineering do one business really well and its ROI distinctly defined consequently . If it has sum value then it should be just that , a bonus . Also , growers are hardheaded , they care about subprogram and not imprint .
So where are the robots ? aside from some promising pilot undertaking , they ’re in the same place they ’ve been for quite a while : just around the niche . If you ’re develop new engineering science , then reach out to see how we can help encourage your functioning and validate your product . If you ’re a grower or distributor face to filter out the noise , then reach out to see how we can facilitate foster espousal to get the technology in your bridge player . Vineland is ready and able-bodied to serve launch more engineering into the food market and insure there ’s a solid impact for the industry . "
For more information : Brian Lynch , PhD , Director , Horticultural Technology SolutionsVineland Research[email protected]www.vinelandresearch.com
