New Mars Forums

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: Robot Farming.

Want to See a Robot Farm? Watch These Ag Machines Go
https://www.designnews.com/automation/w … achines-go

A Dutch vertical farming company has just been valued at over $1 billion
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/16/infarm- … stors.html

Autonomous Farming Robot Wants to Revolutionize Sustainable Agriculture, Can Lift 1,000 Lb
https://www.autoevolution.com/news/auto … 75198.html

tahanson43206

Moderator

Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 19,383

Re: Robot Farming.

This topic seemed best suited for an article about robots picking fruit in the UK

https://www.yahoo.com/news/robot-fruit- … 48977.html

The Telegraph
Robot fruit pickers could be deployed to stop Britons going hungry
Tony Diver
Sat, April 16, 2022, 4:06 PM

Robot farming
Robots could be used to pick fruit under plans to stop Britain from suffering food shortages.

Ministers have ordered a review into new measures to prevent empty supermarket shelves, after watching the impact of the war in Ukraine on global supply chains.

The upcoming food strategy White Paper has been rewritten to include plans to reduce Britain’s reliance on foreign imports and the impact of soaring gas prices and climate change on farmers.

They could include automation of farms to guard against labour shortages and new investment in “vertical farming”, which would increase efficiency.

Writing in The Telegraph, George Eustice, the Environment Secretary, said that Vladimir Putin’s invasion had raised concerns about the security of Britain’s food supply.

“The turbulence on the market has brought into focus, once again, the importance of a resilient global supply chain,” he said.

“Recent events, and the impact of the Covid pandemic, are a reminder that domestic food production matters.”

George Eustice, the Environment Secretary - Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

Although the UK is largely self-sufficient in wheat, a major Ukrainian export, British manufacturers faced a shortage of sunflower oil after the invasion, prompting a nationwide switch to rapeseed oil.

Gas prices have also inflated the cost of fertiliser, making it more expensive for farmers in the UK to grow fruit and vegetables.

Plans to introduce more automation on British farms follow concerns about a post-Brexit shortage of manual labourers.

It is thought that machines could eventually replace human fruit pickers, but current models are too clumsy and easily bruise soft fruits such as strawberries and raspberries.

Ministers are thought to be considering more investment in the technology, as well as grants for farmers to buy new machinery.

They could also invest in vertical farming, where crops are grown in stacked trays in a temperature-controlled warehouse rather than in an open field.

The method is rare in the UK, but has been adopted in Japan.

The food security plans could also include more investment in “agri-tech” that would make farmers less reliant on traditional fertilisers and bring down production costs.

The strategy, due to be announced in the coming months, is also expected to promote “alternative proteins”, including beans, pulses and lab-grown meat.

The strategy follows an independent review by Henry Dimbleby, a restaurateur and entrepreneur, who warned that “eating habits are destroying the environment” and called for more eco-friendly food production methods in the UK.

Ministers have already ruled out Mr Dimbleby’s suggestion of a sugar and salt tax, but are expected to implement other recommendations, including more work on biodiversity and improving soil health to increase the quality of Britain’s produce.

Mr Eustice stressed that Britain has a “high degree of food security”, producing almost 90 per cent of its own wheat and beef and almost reaching self-sufficiency in poultry, eggs, carrots and swedes.

However, a source warned that security could not be “taken for granted” after the invasion of Ukraine.

“We will always support our farmers and food producers, and we are designing our new farming schemes in England in partnership with them to ensure they work in their best interests,” they said.

(th)

SpaceNut

Administrator

From: New Hampshire

Registered: 2004-07-22

Posts: 29,431

Re: Robot Farming.

They could also invest in vertical farming, where crops are grown in stacked trays in a temperature-controlled warehouse rather than in an open field.

This is the one which in places where water is scarce that aids in using less as you control the evaporation and keep it from exiting the building.

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: Robot Farming.

How robots and indoor farming can help save water and grow crops year round

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/18/iron-ox … nd-ai.html

SpaceNut

Administrator

From: New Hampshire

Registered: 2004-07-22

Posts: 29,431

Re: Robot Farming.

We know this but its harder to change people perception to change is a good thing.

I usually hear at work but we have always done it that way, gets old and tiring....

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: Robot Farming.

World's largest vertical strawberry farm , World's largest vertical strawberry farm opens in New Jersey
https://www.freshfruitportal.com/news/2 … ew-jersey/

Brussels is growing fruit and vegetables on the roofs of supermarkets
https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/05/ … upermarket

Vertical farms have the vision, but do they have the energy?
https://www.emergingtechbrew.com/storie … the-energy

Vertical Farm in Lisbon
https://twitter.com/RaizFarms/status/15 … 9489656833

Revolutionary indoor farming method uses 90 percent less water and slashes food waste
https://thehill.com/changing-america/su … ood-waste/

US Foods Partners With Vertical Farming Innovator Kalera to Expand Its Local and Sustainable Fresh Produce Portfolio
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/ … -Portfolio

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: Robot Farming.

Common weed may be 'super plant' that holds key to drought-resistant crops

https://phys.org/news/2022-08-common-we … stant.html

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: Robot Farming.

ANU to support Aussie start-up in growing plants on the moon
https://www.anu.edu.au/news/all-news/an … n-the-moon

Strawberry-picking robot uses ultra violet light to control funguses
https://www.futurefarming.com/tech-in-f … -funguses/

GEA to showcase dairy robot that mixes and delivers feed
https://www.fwi.co.uk/machinery/grassla … ivers-feed

SpaceNut

Administrator

From: New Hampshire

Registered: 2004-07-22

Posts: 29,431

Re: Robot Farming.

Madanapalle students invent solar-powered robotic semi-weed cutter to relieve farmers’ struggles

tahanson43206

Moderator

Registered: 2018-04-27

Posts: 19,383

Re: Robot Farming.

For SpaceNut .... re #34

Thanks for the link to that report on the remote controlled weed cutter from India.

It seems to me that the system ought to be popular world wide.

If the worker can be located at home, while the machine itself is at a farm site, then costs should drop substantially.

(th)

Mars_B4_Moon

Member

Registered: 2006-03-23

Posts: 9,776

Re: Robot Farming.

Precision Agriculture Takes Flight: Enhancing Farming Efficiency with Drone Technology

https://www.electronicsforu.com/special … technology

adoption of drone technology