Autopickr adapts robotic machinery to harvest daffodils

Autopickr has begun introducing robotic technology into daffodil fields after receiving funding from Innovate UK’s Launchpad agri-tech and food technology programme.

Labour shortages have long been a challenge for daffodil growers across the UK, impacting productivity and operational efficiency. Autopickr’s machines have two modes - either to autonomously harvest crops, or shadow a human worker and perform some of the manual tasks.

“Traditionally, we have needed a vast workforce when it comes to harvesting a large amount of daffodils.” says Adam Cunnington, who farms 150 acres of Daffodils at Gedney Dyke, Lincolnshire. “With new technologies entering the space, we are hoping to reduce human labour requirements by 25 to 30 per cent.

“And of course, a robot can work across many years, keeping this requirement down for the foreseeable future.”

Autopickr was incorporated in 2022 and has received backing from Cambridge Future Tech. Based at Orwell House on Cowley Road.

The agricultural machinery designer has already achieved success picking asparagus, as described in the Cambridge Independent last year here.

“Our goal is to empower daffodil growers with innovative solutions that address current labour shortages,” says Autopickr CEO Robyn Sands.

“By automating key processes of the harvest, we can optimise operations – increasing efficiency while decreasing costs.”