Technology news from Fresh Produce Journal
Technology news stories with a direct relevance to the UK fresh produce business, including updates on production and harvesting systems, sorting and grading machinery, packaging, coldstorage and controlled atmosphere, digital management, robots and automation, vertical farming, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.
New UV-C technology cuts fungicide use in Belgian strawberries by up to 80 per cent
The cutting-edge system is now being used in 50 per cent of the tabletop strawberries grown in Flanders
OAL lands £5mn Innovate UK loan to scale up food manufacturing robotics
Five-year programme will support commercial rollout of fenceless robots that work alongside people on packhouse and food manufacturing production lines
Port of Dover wins new ranking on BRCGS storage and distribution standard
The Port of Dover Cargo has been awarded a Grade A for its renewed BRCGS global standard for storage and distribution after continual improvement to its quality management and infrastructure
Precision crop tech ‘could bring many benefits’ to Wales
Potato farmer and NFU Cymru hort chair Tom Rees explains why Welsh politicians must back the technology
Fieldwork Robotics partners with Dynium
Collaboration will provide growers with greater flexibility and enable Fieldwork’s robots to tackle steeper inclines and wider terrain ranges
£50mn in funding to deliver innovative agri-tech tools
Farming minister Angela Eagle announces new public-private investment scheme
Riverford ‘doubles throughput’ with new packing machines
Vex box firm has seen good results from installing GIC4100 machines
Tesco trials AI assistant to help people write their shopping lists
UK’s largest supermarket develops AI-powered shopping assistant to offer personalised recipe ideas and automated basket creation
Importaco and AgriSound collaborate on regenerative farming project
Food group partners with UK’s AgriSound to gauge impact of regenerative farming on pollination and crop performance in almond orchards
Study looks at factors driving Colorado potato beetle outbreaks
A comprehensive Michigan State University has revealed new insights into the environmental factors driving Colorado potato beetle populations
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Finding the right technology in the berry business
Expert speakers at Fruitnet Berry Congress, which took place in London on 19 March, highlighted the potential of various technological solutions to address issues surrounding labour, energy, quality and waste in the berry category
Tevel secures funding for flying robot harvesters
Israel-based agritech company raises US$18m in Series C funding as it works to address labour shortages in fruit supply chains
AgroFresh raises prices as conflict drives up costs
Shelf-life extension specialist implements ‘global price adjustment’ to cope with increasing input inflation
Syngenta invests £100m in UK crop protection research hub
The new biotech and research centre will bring together 300 scientists working with cutting-edge AI technology to fast-track new crop protection products
Berry business faces up to new challenges as growth continues
Investment in varieties, segmentation, marketing and technology will help build more profitable berry business, delegates heard at Fruitnet Berry Congress
Eternal.ag launches autonomous tomato harvesting robot Harvester
The AI-powered system addresses labour shortages that have seen European greenhouse workforce decline 30 per cent since 2010
Tropic secures US$105mn to scale gene-edited banana production
Company plans to scale production of climate-resilient and non-browning varieties, with commercial launches due in 2027
Dole UK trial achieves 28 per cent yield boost using advanced covers
Trial shows thermal reduction covers and continuous bee activity monitoring deliver yield, quality and environmental improvements
Fruitnet Berry Congress still the best place to track innovation in berries
Conference and networking event brings business leaders together to discuss better products, stronger supply chains, and new market trends
Suply expands shipment intelligence platform amid Gulf disruption
Company is expanding deployment of its shipment intelligence platform with fresh produce exporters as key maritime routes are disrupted