Farming’s robot army: How micro machines could be the future of food production

Mini robots like these could replace tractors — and people — on farms of the future

From yields to farm equipment, for decades farmers have toiled away under the impression that bigger is always better when it comes to food production.

But for one engineering expert, encouraging farmers to turn their back on big kit could be the answer to more profitable, sustainable and productive agriculture.

For many years, Simon Blackmore, professor of engineering at Harper Adams University, has been focusing his research on how farm machinery can help answer the challenge of feeding the world.

He is now convinced that small can definitely be beautiful, and he’s trying to encourage arable farmers to start thinking that way too.

Shrinking kit

“We have a lot of weaknesses in our current farming system,” says Professor Blackmore. “We use too much energy, expensive chemicals that aren’t on target, and large machines that damage the soil.

“Crop production must become more flexible and efficient than it presently is — we need to focus on more intelligently-targeted inputs.”

To do that, Prof Blackmore says, the farming industry needs to get ready to take the next step from precision farming — which made huge strides in developing efficiencies — to…