The University of Essex is collaborating with Wilkin & Sons to develop a low-cost strawberry-picking robot aimed at addressing the labour shortage in agriculture. The robot, which has undergone trials in Tiptree, Essex, as part of a £1.02 million grant from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Farming Innovation Programme, is designed to harvest and package strawberries rapidly and affordably. Capable of picking a strawberry in 2.5 seconds, the robot is significantly cheaper than current models, with an estimated cost of £10,000 compared to the typical £150,000 for existing machines.
This project builds on earlier prototypes tested over the past two growing seasons and aims to make advanced agricultural robotics accessible to a broader range of farms, including smaller operations. In addition to speeding up the harvest, the robot’s modular design allows it to be adapted to other crops such as onions, tomatoes, and lettuce. The system uses a robotic arm to pick, weigh, and package strawberries, potentially extending produce shelf life by accelerating the packaging process.
Dr. Vishwanathan Mohan and Professor Klaus McDonald-Maier from the University of Essex’s School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering are leading the design and development of the robot. Dr. Mohan emphasized the importance of affordable robotics in transforming food production and addressing broader challenges such as food and labour security, climate change, and energy use.
Wilkin & Sons’ Joint Managing Director, Chris Newenham, highlighted the complexity of the challenge but expressed confidence in the collaboration with the University of Essex. The government’s Farming Innovation Programme, which supports this initiative, is focused on enhancing productivity, sustainability, and moving the agricultural sector toward net-zero goals.
