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£20m Defra fund to accelerate robotics and automation in UK farming
Agri-tech businesses can now apply for a share of the funding to work alongside researchers and farmers to develop the next generation of automated technologies, from crop establishment and harvesting to livestock health.
The Government says the funding will help ‘fast-track’ innovations that can support farmers to plant, tend and harvest crops, while improving productivity, yields and profitability.
Tackling labour and productivity challenges
With labour shortages continuing to put pressure on many farming businesses, automation is increasingly being seen as an important tool for improving efficiency and resilience.
The new funding will support technologies capable of carrying out tasks ranging from planting seeds to picking fruit, potentially reducing the reliance on seasonal labour during some of the industry's busiest periods.
Farming Minister Stephen Morgan described the investment as a ‘vote of confidence in British ingenuity’ and a significant step towards the Government's vision of a modern and resilient farming sector, outlined in its recently published 25 Year Farming Roadmap.
The funding is being delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, with projects expected to bring together technology developers, researchers and farmers to ensure innovations address genuine on-farm challenges.
Chris Danks, head of agrifood at Innovate UK, said robotics and automation are becoming increasingly important tools for farmers looking to improve productivity and build more resilient businesses.
From robotic fruit pickers to livestock health
The funding builds on a growing number of UK projects demonstrating how automation can be applied across different areas of agriculture.
Fieldwork Robotics, for example, has developed a raspberry-picking robot and is using government support to improve its robustness and reliability ahead of wider commercial deployment.
Importantly, the latest funding round is also open to livestock applications, recognising the potential for automation to support animal health as well as crop production.
One example is Roboscientific's DETECT project, which is developing technology capable of identifying illness in dairy cattle through breath analysis. The system aims to detect bovine respiratory disease at an early stage, potentially helping farmers reduce animal losses, veterinary costs and the additional labour associated with treating sick animals.
Technology shaping the future of farming
The investment highlights the growing role that robotics, automation and precision technology could play in the future of UK agriculture.
For farmers, the potential benefits extend beyond simply replacing labour. Automation can help improve accuracy, consistency and efficiency, while enabling farmers to collect more data and make better-informed decisions.
From autonomous machinery and robotic harvesting to automated livestock monitoring, these technologies are helping to redefine what is possible on farm.
At LAMMA, innovation is at the heart of the show, with farmers able to discover the latest machinery, technology and solutions designed to improve productivity and future-proof their businesses.
As investment in agricultural robotics gathers pace, the £20 million Defra fund could help move more of these technologies from development and research into practical, commercially viable solutions on farms.
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