The signal
Harvesting robots are working in greenhouses and in trials in orchards and fields. They are generally slower and more expensive than human pickers so far.
Where it could lead
Many fruit and vegetable farms depend on seasonal labour that’s increasingly hard to find. Robotic harvesting could keep crops from rotting in fields and change which crops are viable to grow.
Evidence that would strengthen the case
- Robots match human picking speed at comparable cost
- Farms redesign orchards and greenhouses to suit robots
- Harvesting offered as a rental or service
What could prevent it
- Crops too varied for robots to handle reliably
- Labour stays available and cheap enough
- Machines too costly for seasonal use