A Robot revolution: the future of UK agriculture?

This week the government announced a further £20 million funding to develop automated systems and farm robots to assist in the planting, tending and harvesting of crops.

The aim is to speed up the development of agricultural technology, so that it can be rolled out commercially to reduce the pressure on UK farmers. As Farming Minister Stephen Morgan stated: “This funding will help put cutting-edge robots and technology into their hands, easing that burden while boosting yield and profits.”

Earlier this year the Cold Chain Federation (CCF) highlighted “The potential for a major food crisis” due to our reliance on food, fuel and fertilizer imports from overseas.

Technological advancements could increase productivity and strengthen the resilience of the sector, which has been experiencing increased pressure following the conflict in the Middle East and subsequent delays from international suppliers.

New robots are being built to pick fruit and vegetables during harvest, replacing the need for seasonal workers which are now increasingly hard to find. Technology is even being developed to detect bovine respiratory disease early in dairy cows, which could prevent animal loss and costly veterinary bills. If this new agricultural technology can be developed and rolled out to farmers across the UK, then this should upscale Britain’s food production, resulting in less reliance on imports to feed the nation.

However, increased production is only one factor when aiming to strengthen Britain’s food system, having suitable cold storage to prolong the shelf life of the food grown will be essential.

During a period where many are already facing increasing overheads, the cost of building new cold store facilities will be the last thing many producers will want to consider. This is where refrigerated containers can provide a necessary solution.

Available on flexible hire terms, temperature-controlled storage containers can increase storage capacity, whilst keeping costs within budget. A 20ft or 40ft container can be onsite for the duration of the harvest season and then removed once completed, meaning farmers only pay for additional storage when it is in use, instead of the ongoing cost of building and maintaining on-site cold storage facilities.

The speed and mobility of refrigerated containers also means that cold storage can be scaled up rapidly in reaction to larger crop yields, preventing potential crop loss or waste.

Looking to increase your storage capacity? Call the team today on 01473 261780 or email sales@sevenrefrigeration.co.uk.