Robotics and automation in the agri-food industry could improve productivity, reduce waste, maximise safety and lower costs, according to Northern Ireland’s agriculture minister Edwin Poots.
Poots made the remarks as he launched a research and development project between College of Agriculture Food & Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) and the Northern Ireland Technology Centre (NITC) at Queen’s University, Belfast. The project aims to investigate the opportunities for robotics and automation in the NI agri-food industry.
Launching the scheme, Poots said: “Robotics and automation have progressed at a lightning speed in the last few decades and that momentum is sure to continue.
“Embedding robotics and automation into our food manufacturing and packaging processes brings so many advantages from increased precision, improved safety, reducing costs, minimising waste and maximising productivity.”
The project will use virtual modelling of food production processes in real time and aims to help to raise awareness of this technology across the industry. The project will be based at CAFRE’s Loughry Campus and will draw on the expertise of NITC’s work with other manufacturing sectors.
Poots added:“Importantly, the project will also see robotics and automation embedded into future CAFRE curriculum, ensuring our students are equipped for emerging opportunities in this area.
“The last 100 years has seen technology advance at an incredible rate. In this centenary year for Northern Ireland, I am encouraged to see the local sector preparing for the next 100 years through this exciting development.”
