UK Government Initiates £20 Million Funding Competition for Agricultural Robotics Development
- Published
The UK government has introduced a £20 million funding competition aimed at enhancing the development of robots and automated technologies in agriculture. This initiative, announced by farming minister Stephen Morgan, seeks to assist farmers in boosting productivity and reducing reliance on seasonal labor. The funding is directed towards agri-tech businesses collaborating with researchers and farmers to create robotic systems for planting, monitoring, and harvesting crops.
This funding competition is part of the government’s Farming Innovation Programme and follows a previous £53 million funding package, bringing the total funding for farming research and technology in 2023 to £123 million. The initiative aims to support the development of automation technologies that can alleviate labor shortages during peak harvest times. Fieldwork Robotics, known for its raspberry-picking robot, is one of the companies benefiting from prior government support to enhance its technology.
Looking ahead, the competition is being executed in collaboration with Innovate UK, emphasizing the growing significance of robotics in agriculture. As stated by Chris Danks from Innovate UK, this initiative will facilitate the transition of innovative concepts into practical applications on farms, ultimately improving productivity and resilience in the agricultural sector. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
Original report
UK government launches £20 million funding competition for agricultural robots
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