The UK fruit sector is set to benefit from recent advancements at Loughborough University. The institution's School of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering is addressing issues such as labour shortages, environmental impact, and output efficiency. The experts have launched a unique navigation system to aid two projects aimed at enhancing the country's horticultural landscape.
Both initiatives, backed by a £6 million fund, leverage innovative technology to boost fruit production efficiency in the UK. This includes the use of fruit-picking robots and the development of digital orchards. The £4.5 million Precision Orchard Management for the Environment (POME) project, a four-year venture led by Hutchinsons, will digitally analyse and scan fruit trees to create precision dosing maps for various applications and provide accurate yield forecasts.
The Area-H project, in collaboration with Antobot, utilises the university's navigation system to support the development of autonomous agricultural robots. The project, funded by DEFRA and Innovate UK, received £1.5 million. The projects aim to address the challenges faced by the UK horticulture industry and pave the way for a sustainable and resilient future in agriculture.
Source: www.lboro.ac.uk