Share of £16m for pioneering farming projects

The projects include one involving Stockbridge Technology Centre in Cawood near Selby. Known as the ‘Automato’ project, it will see the development of a robot which could be used to automatically harvest tomato crops as a way of addressing the seasonal labour constraints in the industry.

It is envisaged that the robotic system will be a cost-effective technological solution that performs quality and ripeness inspections of crops before harvesting.

A collaboration of five partners are working together to realise this ambition.

The funding comes from the Government’s Agri-Tech Catalyst and other projects to receive contributions will look at food security, sustainability, weed control and livestock disease.

The government funding is complemented by industry co-investment to provide grants of between £200,000 and £1.5m to pioneering science and technology projects within the UK’s agricultural sector.

Farming Minister George Eustice said: ‪“Although there has been great pressure on farm incomes over the past 12 months, I believe the industry has a good future and technological advances will help. Farmers have an essential role in building a strong economy and feeding the nation.

“Taking innovations from the laboratory to the farm is key to boosting productivity, and tackling pests and diseases. That is why the government supports projects through our Agri-Tech Strategy, like those who have won today.”

A new round of funding is now open. Its focus is on international development projects and it is being managed by the Department for International Development.