Here come the robots

I am always a little sceptical of technological fixes.   They are always accompanied (understandably) by a certain amount of boosterism, not just from the innovator or the operating company, but also from politicians.   Technological adoption is in practice socially mediated.

There is no doubt that the fruit and vegetable sector has been hit hard by Brexit in terms of his ability to secure labour need for picking, sorting and packaging.  Far fewer workers than in the past will be let in under the seasonal workers scheme and many regulars have been put off by the fall of the euro against the pound.

The usual response from British politicians is to recommend the use of more local labour.  However, relatively few of those who express an interest sign up and many of those that do don't last.   Even when they do, their picking rates are poor.   It is monotonous, backbreaking work.

The second type of argument used by politicians is that the answer lies in the use of new technology and that indeed a scarcity of labour could help to force its adoption.   I am all for new technology if it is appropriate and affordable.

Devising robots to pick and service, for example, soft fruit is no easy task and it has to be recognised we are some way off effective availability at an affordable price.  We would also need people with the right skills to programme and maintain the robots, although usually that service is provided by the manufacturer.   

The capital cost issue can be dealt with by growers not buying the robots but paying a fee based on the crops harvested.

The estimable Judith Evans had a long article on the topic in the Financial Times yesterday.   Without breaching the Pink Un's pay wall or copyright, I think that I can quote a few key points:

1. For now we are really at an 'advanced research and development stage'.   Claims about commercial availability vary, but we are at best a few years off in terms of any substantial impact. Norway's Sage Roberts hopes to have 10 to 15 robots in the field next year to fight mildew on strawberry plants, followed by a harvesting function in 2022.
2. Eventually, robots should be able to reduce the number of workers required for harvesting by 50 to 70 per cent.
3. Robots do not necessarily pick faster than humans, but they can operate around the clock.

The Government is funding several robot projects, e.g., a demonstration farm in Kent.

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British workers challenged by picking tasks

In the past I have undertaken quite a lot of work which involved me talking to growers in the glasshouse and field vegetable sectors.  This included the work I did on biocontrol (ongoing) and a Defra funded project which looked at polytunnels among other issues.

I have seen this work being done and even with picking rigs in the field it is arduous, repetitive and requires high levels of concentration.

Everyone I interviewed was of the clear view that it was no use taking workers from the local unemployed pool.  They didn't turn up on time; they were less productive; and they soon gave up.  Anecdotally, this seemed to be confirmed by a programme that the BBC filmed in Wisbech.

It is therefore no surprise to learn from the Financial Times yesterday that although a local recruitment drive has been relatively successful, productivity among these workers is lower and in the case of one major grower a third have already left.  Half were not able to achieve the required picking rates.

This is a low margin business in which labour can account for 70 per cent of the costs.  According to the Pink 'Un net operating margins are just 9.5 per cent.

Normally there are 70,000 to 80,000 migrant workers in the sector.   A seasonal workers scheme this year let in 10,000 temporary non-EU farm workers.

Some crops such as asparagus have already been left unpicked this year because of the pandemic.  In the longer run, supplies could diminish and prices go up.   One doesn't have to be too impressed by food security arguments to realise that there is a case for having a good local supply of healthy fruit and vegetables.

Congratulations to Judith Evans who is a new FT reporter covering agriculture but has done some excellent reports.   I have spoken to her and she asks good questions.