Future of Farming

Farming1

Workshop Summary

On August 29, a workshop co-organized by Innovation Booster Robotics and the Agroscope Research Center in Conthey explored the potential of robotics to transform the food chain, focusing on agricultural practices and food production. The day, structured around two main sessions and interactive breakout groups, offered a dynamic and collaborative experience for participants. Discussions addressed critical challenges and potential solutions to enhance agricultural efficiency and food production processes.

Identified Challenges

Robots in Agriculture

  • Task specialization: Robots limited to performing a single function; need for multifunctional capabilities.
  • Sensing systems: Challenges in monitoring diseases and insect infestations.
  • Regulations: Regulatory constraints hindering technological advancements.
  • Farmer adoption: Complexity in operation and maintenance limiting adoption.
  • Energy supply: Issues with consistent power for continuous operation.
  • Harvest automation: Limited progress toward full automation of harvesting processes.
  • Lack of public data: Limited access to shared agricultural datasets.
  • Integration: High costs and technological limitations of aerial robots.

Robots in the Food Industry and Regulation

  • Food waste: Lack of reliable systems to detect expiration or spoilage.
  • Sustainability: Reducing packaging and optimizing distribution chains.
  • Accessibility: Robots tailored to the needs of individuals with disabilities.
  • Food-grade materials: Ensuring compliance with cleaning and sterilization standards.
  • Delicate fruit handling: Ensuring robots can handle fragile products without damage.
  • Laws and regulation need to be adapted to the technologies in the field.

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Proposed Solutions

Robots in Agriculture

  • Develop computer vision systems to monitor crop health and detect diseases.
  • Design modular, versatile robots tailored to farmers’ needs.
  • Establish platforms to share data and foster collaboration.
  • Accelerate the transition from lab innovations to field applications.
  • Create user-friendly designs to facilitate adoption by farmers.

Robots in the Food Industry and Regulation

  • Create biosensors to monitor food safety and quality.
  • Implement sensors in supermarkets to detect contamination and reduce waste.
  • Develop technologies for harvesting on steep terrains and handling delicate fruits.
  • Improve distribution chains with collaborative robotic systems.
  • Allow use of pesticides when precision farming technology is being used.

Additional Contributions of Robotics

  • Reduction of soil pollution and degradation.
  • Promotion of local and sustainable food production.
  • Adaptation to unstable climate conditions through advanced control systems.
  • Reduction of the need for food processing and additives.

The workshop identified 29 challenges, 14 concrete solutions, and 4 ideas requiring further development. These results highlight the potential of robotics to revolutionize agriculture and the food industry while addressing sustainability and efficiency challenges.

📅 Date: 15th of November 2024

📍 Location: Agroscope Research Center, Conthey, VS

🕘 Duration: 1 day

🗣  Language: English

This one-day workshop is co-organized by Innovation Booster Robotics and Agroscope Research Center in Conthey, and it aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the integration of robotics across the food chain, with focused on agricultural practices, and food production, complemented by interactive breakout groups for in-depth discussions and collaborative problem-solving. The workshop design  features two focus sessions and interactive breakout groups, 

Target Audience:

  • Climate experts
  • Sustainability and product life cycle experts
  • Agricultural professionals and farmers
  • Robotics engineers and developers
  • Researchers and academics in agriculture, climate science, and food technology
  • Students in related fields
  • Policymakers and stakeholders in agricultural and food technology

AGENDA

9:30 – 10:00: Welcome and Coffee

  • Participant registration
  • Informal networking

10:00 – 10:30: Opening Remarks by Innovation Booster Robotics, Agroscope and Josie Hughes

10:30 – 11:30: Session 1: Robotics in Agriculture 

  • Presentation on the role of robotics in various stages of agriculture: planting, cultivation, and harvesting
  • Innovations in precision farming, soil management, and crop monitoring
  • Case studies with a focus on challenges
  • Q&A session

11:30 – 12:30 Ideation Workshop 1: Robotics in Agriculture

  • Participants divided into groups to explore the integration of robotics in the transition from agriculture to food production, focusing on challenges identified in the morning session.

12:30 – 14:00 Lunch Break and Guided Visit of Agroscope

14:00 – 15:00 Session 2: Robotics in Food Handling and regulation

15:00 – 16:00 Ideation Workshop 2: Robotics in Food Handling

  • Presentation on the use of robotics in food processing, packaging, and quality control
  • Advances in automation in food factories and supply chains
  • Case studies with a focus on challenges
  • Q&A session

16:00 – 16:15 Break

16:15 – 16:45: Wrap-up and Conclusions

  • Summary of key takeaways from sessions and breakout groups
  • Final thoughts on the future of robotics across the food chain

16:45 – 17:30: Networking Session

  • Opportunity for participants to network and discuss potential collaborations

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While participation is free, registration is required. Use this link to register: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/future_of_farming

Here are some photos of robots at Agroscope Conthey.

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