Report

Agricultural Robotics: The Future of Robotic Agriculture

The recent commitment of a £90million investment by the government (Transforming Food Production Challenge through the Industrial Strategy) supports the idea that Agri-tech is a burgeoning market, and in this report  UKRAS explores the use of robotics in this important sector, which employs almost 4 million people and is larger than the automotive and aerospace sectors combined.

Agri-tech companies are already working closely with UK farmers, using technology, particularly robotics and AI, to help create new technologies and herald new innovations. This is a truly exciting
time for the industry as there is a growing recognition that the significant challenges facing global agriculture represent unique opportunities for innovation, investment and commercial growth.

This white paper aims to provide an overview of the current impact and challenges facing Agri-tech, as well as associated ethical considerations. It provides the reader with an overview of the current trends, technological advances, as well as barriers that may impede the sector’s full potential. It includes recommendations to some of the challenges identified and provides a basis for discussing the future technological roadmaps, engaging the wider community and stakeholders, as well as policy makers, in assessing the potential social, economic and ethical/legal impact of RAS in agriculture.