- Innovate UK support: Minimal Financial Assistance and Collaborative Research & Development
Project sits within the Agri-Tech Cluster
CASE STUDY: Using robotics to secure the future of UK fruit farming
Neurabotics Ltd, based in Ceredigion, is developing advanced robotic technology to address one of the most urgent challenges facing the UK fruit sector: rising labour costs and severe shortages of seasonal workers. With support from Innovate UK, the company is exploring whether autonomous harvesting can provide a viable, cost-effective solution to help growers remain profitable and resilient.
The UK fruit growing industry is under increasing pressure. A shortage of seasonal labour, combined with rising operating costs, has left many growers struggling to maintain margins. Recent industry surveys suggest that a significant proportion of fruit growers are no longer profitable, putting the long-term sustainability of domestic fruit production at risk. Neurabotics' project responds directly to this challenge by focusing on automation that reduces both labour dependency and operating costs.
The Innovate UK-supported work centres on the development of a high-speed, energy-efficient autonomous fruit harvester. Unlike many existing robotic systems, which are often slow and require high levels of energy to operate, Neurabotics' patented technology is designed to dramatically reduce the time and power needed to harvest fruit. This means fewer machines are required to achieve the same picking output, lowering costs for growers.
The initial focus of the project is on strawberries, one of the most labour-intensive crops in the UK horticultural sector. The feasibility study is developing the advanced hardware and artificial intelligence needed to demonstrate fast, accurate picking in real-world growing environments. Importantly, the technology is designed to be adaptable, with potential applications across a wide range of fruits and vegetables as the system develops.
Innovate UK funding has enabled Neurabotics to assess the technical and economic viability of the approach, laying the groundwork for scale-up. Following successful early work, the project has progressed to Collaborative Research & Development funding, supporting further development and live trials. This progression reflects the potential of the technology to deliver meaningful impact at farm level.
Marcus Burnham said: "The support from the Agri-Tech and Food Technology Cluster has been absolutely invaluable to our work at Neurabotics. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity and the backing we've received. We would never have been able to make this much progress on our autonomous harvesting technology without them."
By improving harvesting efficiency and reducing reliance on scarce labour, Neurabotics' innovation has the potential to help stabilise fruit production in Wales and across the UK. The project demonstrates how robotics and artificial intelligence can be applied in practical, farm-focused ways to support productivity, resilience and long-term sustainability in the agri-food sector.
Project facts
- Business: Neurabotics Ltd
- Location: Ceredigion
- Innovate UK support: Minimal Financial Assistance and Collaborative Research & Development
- Focus: High-speed, energy-efficient robotic fruit harvesting
- Initial crop focus: Strawberries
- Wider impact: Reduced labour dependency and improved farm profitability
