In context
In September 2023, agricultural robotics was gaining traction as labor shortages and sustainability pressures pushed growers toward automation. The Summer Berry Company's expansion of its robot fleet highlighted a growing trend of integrating robotics into mainstream berry production.
What was reported
The Summer Berry Company (TSBCo), a UK berry grower backed by Cibus Capital, extended its partnership with Tortuga AgTech, a provider of commercial harvesting robot fleets. TSBCo deployed 52 Tortuga robots across 26 hectares of glasshouses and 140 hectares of polytunnels in Southwest England.
The robots are tasked with harvesting strawberries, providing yield forecasts, monitoring plant health, and supporting agronomists in pest control through UV light application. This deployment builds on a partnership that began in 2019, with TSBCo being Tortuga's first customer.
Cibus Capital highlighted the strategic importance of the collaboration, noting that it addresses labor availability risks exacerbated by seasonal demand fluctuations, rising wages, and mobility challenges for overseas pickers due to geopolitical issues like Brexit. The robots also offer data collection and growth forecasting advantages that differentiate TSBCo's operations.
Why it mattered
This expansion signaled a shift from pilot projects to scaled deployment of agricultural robots in commercial settings, demonstrating that robotics could deliver both operational efficiency and sustainability benefits. For industrial automation, it underscored the growing role of autonomous systems in addressing labor shortages and enhancing data-driven decision-making in agriculture.
“We are pleased to see TSBCo developing their partnership with Tortuga, which will continue to ensure TSBCo is leading the way among berry growers in the agri-tech revolution.”
Source: Robotics & Automation News (roboticsandautomationnews.com) · Published 2023-09-05 · “Summer Berry Company partners with Tortuga AgTech”