Robotization and AI transforming asparagus farming
The introduction of harvest robots in asparagus farming has begun, though a full breakthrough has yet to occur. At the Dutch Innovation Day for Asparagus, experts emphasized that developments in robotics and AI are accelerating rapidly, with the agricultural sector being no exception.
Jeroen Rondeel of Blue Engineering noted that while robots are increasingly capable, their current operational speed remains too slow for widespread practical use. However, as sensors and computers become faster and cheaper, robot technology will become more attractive. Where it took thirty years since the introduction of the first robot to reach the point we are at today, developments in the coming years will only accelerate.
Moore’s Law
Today’s computers are a million times faster than those of thirty years ago. This is known as Moore’s Law: every two years, computer processing speeds double. This trend is expected to continue until at least 2040, by which time computers will be 1,000 times faster than they are today. “Robots will therefore become even faster, and sensors even better. Both will also become cheaper, making them increasingly appealing for the agricultural sector. For instance, in gerbera cultivation, a robot now achieves about a quarter of a human’s capacity in flower picking, but it operates 24/7 instead of just eight hours. This narrows the daily gap, and I am convinced that the picking capacity of robots will significantly increase in the future.”
Rondeel predicts not only a larger role for robots in harvesting but also in sorting, quality assessments, and logistics. “Unmanned robots are already working in fields for weed control, and fully automated harvesting robots are being used in asparagus cultivation.”
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Not a revolution, but evolution
Cindy van Rijswick of Rabobank echoed these sentiments in her presentation. She sees robotics and AI more as an evolution than a revolution. According to her, robotizing manual labor remains the most challenging. “Many tasks that humans can perform, robots can do better and faster, except for manual tasks like harvesting. These involve various factors—such as gentle handling, assessing the produce, performing specific harvesting actions, and placing it into containers—that make it complex for a robot to carry out.” However, she sees great potential for automation and robotics in activities like detecting, inspecting, counting, and quality assessments, especially in pre- and post-harvest operations.
Rabobank’s survey revealed several reasons why robotization hasn’t fully taken off in the agricultural sector: lack of flexibility, necessary adjustments, investment risks, personnel unfamiliarity with technology, regulations, data ownership, safety concerns, seasonality, and weather conditions. “On the development side, the challenge is securing enough funding,” Van Rijswick notes. “And agriculture isn’t exactly the sector where investors are eager to put their money.”
Not just replacing labor
However, agriculture is the sector where major challenges regarding labor supply will arise. Van Rijswick expects the labor market to grow until 2030, after which it will become significantly more difficult. “The sector that pays best will have the upper hand.” She also sees robotization as not just a way to replace labor but to improve working conditions. Additionally, it will lead to more uniform products, quality improvements, increased flexibility, and waste reduction (due to more precise measurements).
Asparagus harvesting robots
On the subject of robotization in asparagus harvesting, AVL Motion and Lommers Tuinbouwmachines presented their progress at the Innovation Day for Asparagus. Next season, four harvest robots from AVL Motion will go into practical use, with plans to move into serial production. Lommers’ harvest robot underwent extensive testing with two asparagus growers last season, leading to several adjustments to the current prototype. For instance, the foil guide will be moved from the top to the side, allowing for harvesting under mini tunnels with M-bows.
One grower, according to Toine Lommers, has already placed an order and has an option to purchase 15 robots. The robot has two harvesting heads, each taking 3 seconds to cut an asparagus spear from the bed. The cut asparagus remains horizontal in the ridge, ready for collection. At a rate of one spear every 1.5 seconds, the machine could perform 15,000 to 20,000 cuts in an 8-hour period. The driving speed depends on the number of asparagus spears to be harvested per hectare. The machine automatically adjusts its speed: when it detects no asparagus, it speeds up until it reaches the next harvest area. Lommers mentioned a price range of €150,000 to €200,000.
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