Robot manufacturers intensify focus on Australian vegetable market
Field robot manufacturers are intensifying their focus on the Australian vegetable market as a new programme launches to bolster advanced mechanisation technology adoption within the industry. Naïo Technologies, Ecorobotix, and Verdant Robotics have confirmed plans for their entry into the Australian market.
The initiative aims to boost the adoption of advanced mechanisation technology in the Australian vegetable industry, to tackle the industry’s high input costs and labour challenges that affect grower profitability.
The programme will be delivered by Hort Innovation and the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) in partnership with the Global Organisation for Agricultural Robotics (GOFAR) which leads the International Forum of Agricultural Robotics (FIRA).
Global innovations at local fingertips
According to Hort Innovation chief executive officer Brett Fifiel, employing the latest technology is essential in keeping the Australian horticulture sector competitive. “This grower-focused programme will bring global innovations directly into the hands of veggie growers, so that they can play an active role in trialling the technology.”
Besides these trials, available for growers, there are 2 study tours planned to FIRA robot events from Australia. Growers in Australia will also be able to see demonstrations, with validation and demonstrations of technologies across multiple states.
Versatile robots for diverse crops
3 robot manufacturers, with robots that can work in many vegetable crops, announced during the launch of the project that they have plans to introduce their robots to the Australian vegetable market.
Naïo Technologies expects its entry into the Australian market soon. According to Julien Laffont, Director of Strategy & Business Development at Naïo Technologies, the company is actively engaging with key contacts in Australia to facilitate its market introduction.
“Soon we hope to train people, and have support for our robots in Australia“, Laffont said. “We need this local presence to make sure our final user is happy.” The French company already has 36 ag dealers around the world.
Robots can enter fields before tractors
Laffont explained that Naïo Technologies currently has 422 robots operational in 18 countries. The company has 4 different robots available, suitable for many implements, Laffont said. “Our goal is to have robots, as versatile as possible. For example, some customers in Poland are using up to 14 implements on our robot Orio. They can use the robots all year.”
Laffont said that its lightweight electric robots can enter fields up to 3 days before tractors after rainfall. They can deliver a 50% reduction of manual labour tasks, according to Laffont.
Sharpshooter to Australia
Curtis Garner, COO & Co-founder at U.S. company Verdant Robotics, announced that his company would like to introduce the Sharpshooter to Australia. The Sharpshooter attaches to a tractor and sprays up to 3.75 acres per hour, day or night.
The platform has several capabilities to help growers to generate higher yields and profits through targeted thinning, weeding, protectant, and nutrient delivery at millimetre level, primarily in specialty vegetable crops.
“We have a spot-sprayer that puts a dollop of fluid just on the weed, and nowhere else”, Garner said. “With a spot size of about 17 millimetre wide. The platform saves 60% to 69% savings on spraying materials. We have started as a service, but we have moved to selling machines to growers now.”
Regional Manager The Americas Jose Marchetti at Ecorobotix said that the company is planning to launch in Australia as well. “Now that our operations in the Americas are established, we are definitely going to get into the market in Australia in 2025.”
Return on investment
The Swiss company has a dealer network all around Europe, and has started operations in the U.S. in 2022. “We have deployed more than 300 machines”, Marchetti said. “We are sold out until 2026 in the EU, and we have sold our target in the U.S. for 2024, expanding our dealer network across the U.S.”
ARA, the ultra high-precision sprayer of Ecorobotix, has a driving speed of 7.2 km per hour. “No matter was the weed infestation on the field is”, Marchetti emphasised. “And ARA can cover 40 to 60 hectares in a day. Our machine has a fantastic return on investment, with a payback within 1 or 2 years in some areas. You can reduce weeding from 20% to 100%.“
“It gives such a relief of costs and problems that manual weeding gives to farmers. And by avoiding spraying the crop, we often see a 15% or more increase in yields, and a huge reduction of phytosanitary products, up to 95%.”
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