Quick recap

Kaya Moore presented updates on various Innovation Farm projects focused on agrobotics research, including trials of different robotic systems for planting, weeding, and vineyard operations, with particular emphasis on their efficiency, cost savings, and environmental impact. The research demonstrated significant improvements in automation and reduced human intervention requirements across multiple agricultural applications, with electric robots showing better energy efficiency and lower emissions compared to diesel tractors. The team discussed the challenges and opportunities for implementing agricultural robotics, including ROI calculations, reliability concerns, and the need for standardized evaluation metrics, while also touching on upcoming industry events and partnerships.

Next steps

• Kaya Moore to continue collecting data and analyze harvest data to calculate ROI for the innovation farm projects.

• Kaya Moore to prepare final reports on all the innovation farm projects.

• Working group members to consider developing a standardized checklist/metrics for evaluating new robotic systems.

• Haggerty team to document specific types of interventions required for robots to help manufacturers understand areas for improvement.

• Working group members interested in the European delegation to connect with Lisa Merjan for more information.

• Working group members to visit the Agrobotics Working Group, RHA, and Haggerty booths at the Outdoor Farm Show.

• Interested members to attend the Ag Tech Breakfast on Wednesday morning at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show.

• Interested members to check out the Agricultural Stewardship Initiative before the September 3rd intake deadline.

Summary

Agrobotics Research Update

Kaya Moore from Haggerty presented an update on Innovation Farm projects, focusing on research into agrobotics efficiency, effectiveness, labor reduction, cost savings, and input emissions. She highlighted ongoing trials including an asparagus harvester study, alternative weed control in vineyards, and a squash plot trial at Simcoe Research Station, as well as FCC-funded projects on Paquetta Lens adoption and agrobotics for vegetable production at Bradford Ontario Crops Research Station. The research aims to provide data-backed findings to support further development and real-world impact, with specific metrics being collected across all projects.

Agricultural Robotics Performance Review

Kaya Moore presented findings from three agricultural robotics projects. At Simcoe, the Oz robot achieved a 75% emergence rate for squash planting and eliminated 96.7% of weeds, with a 27% reduction in herbicide use. The Ted robot demonstrated work rates between 1.0-1.6 acres per hour for vineyard operations, while the Farm Droid showed improved performance in onion cultivation, with operators estimating it could replace 5 people plus one supervisor for weeding tasks. All projects showed decreasing human intervention requirements as the technology became more familiar, with supervised operations gradually transitioning to unsupervised status.

Sustainable Agriculture Through Robotics

Kaya Moore discussed sustainability in agriculture, defining it as a balance between environmental quality, economic viability, and quality of life. She outlined current threats to modern agriculture, such as labor shortages and climate change, and potential negative impacts, including nutrient runoff and GHG emissions. Moore explored how robotics can contribute to sustainability by reducing labor needs, providing herbicide alternatives, and promoting healthier soils. She highlighted areas for future research, including the impact of robotics on input reduction and noise pollution.

Electric vs Diesel Tractor Study

Kaya Moore presented a study comparing the energy consumption, costs, and CO2 emissions of electric robots versus diesel tractors. She found that the electric robots, specifically the Oz at Simcoe and Ted at the Vineyard, had significantly lower costs and emissions than diesel tractors. The study showed that the electric robots cost about 21 times less for fuel and produced about 33 times fewer CO2 emissions than diesel tractors during a small comparative study of cultivation at the Simcoe Research Station.

Ag Expert ROI Tracking Study

Kaya Moore presented on the use of Ag Expert to track ROI on new agricultural technology, focusing on two main projects: a squash plot trial at Simcoe Research Center and a robotic comparison trial for corn production using the Roboti. She explained that while initial cost data showed similar total costs between the control and robotic fields ($308 vs $329 per acre), they would need yield data to fully assess ROI. The study, funded by AC and FCC, will continue into the next year with a single field trial to reduce variables, and the data will be used to drive insights for research and development in robotics.

Robotic Agriculture: Cost and Autonomy

Kaya presented data and insights on robotics in agriculture, focusing on cost efficiency and autonomy. Chuck noted that comparing small, swarm robots to large, modern machines was interesting and encouraging, as the cost per acre was already competitive. Nevin asked about the level of human intervention required, to which Kaya responded that interventions decrease over time as operators gain experience, suggesting potential for increased autonomy in future seasons.

Agricultural Robotics Trust and Evaluation

The team discussed the reliability and adoption challenges of robotic systems in agriculture, with Chuck highlighting the need for transparency about the learning curve and intervention requirements. Kaya emphasized building trust among growers and stakeholders through consistent communication and documentation of interventions. Bridget proposed developing a standardized checklist for evaluating robotic systems, including ROI calculations and common metrics, to facilitate consistent assessment across different platforms. The group agreed on the value of such a tool for advancing the agricultural robotics ecosystem.

Farming ROI Analysis Challenges

The team discussed the challenges of calculating ROI and cost comparisons for farming operations, noting that each farm is unique and lacks standardized cost breakdowns. Caesar emphasized the need for accurate, farm-specific comparisons to build trust in autonomous technology, while Chuck acknowledged the necessity of conducting individual farm assessments despite the limitations. Joe highlighted the importance of establishing benchmarks, even if they require adaptation, and expressed gratitude for producers willing to share data.

Agricultural Robot Reliability Improvements

The team discussed the progress and future of agricultural robots, focusing on improving reliability and adoption rates. Chuck emphasized the need for robots to be predictable and reliable, noting that farmers need confidence in their performance rather than just speed. Ifesinachi shared insights from recent field studies, highlighting both improvements and current limitations in robot performance. Jason added that the team is making progress in measuring interventions and establishing benchmarks for robot performance, using cost comparisons with conventional equipment to guide improvements.

Agrotech Updates and Future Initiatives

The conversation ended with updates from Lisa Merjan about an upcoming Canadian agrotech delegation to Ireland in September, including opportunities for networking at the National Plowing Championships. Joe shared news about the Outdoor Farm Show, Sean O'Connor's forage robotics company's $40 million Series B investment, and Reservoir Farms' partnership with John Deere. Dan announced that Reservoir Farms would present their first-year update in December, and mentioned the Agrobotics working group's booth at the Outdoor Farm Show. The meeting also touched on an agricultural stewardship initiative with an intake deadline of September 3rd, and Dan announced that next week would feature presentations from Haggerty interns on their summer work.