A groundbreaking project aimed at exploring the role drone technology can play in improving yield, fruit quality and forecasting in UK strawberry production is a pivotal step towards enhancing food security.
The project, Precision Pollination for Higher Strawberry Productivity and Quality, offers a strong consortium comprising the UK Agri-Tech Centre, Angus Soft Fruits and Polybee, with funding support from Innovate UK.
This combines expert berry growers from the UK, agri-tech innovation and development specialists and a Singaporean partner with expertise in using innovative drone technology for pollination and crop imaging.
Fresh Strawberries are a high value crop in the UK, worth £377m in 2022, over 30 percent of the total UK fruit value (Defra, 2023).
Most commercial UK crops are grown under protection in structures such as polytunnels or glasshouses to provide optimal conditions for the plants to grow and fruit to develop.
Two measures that determine the success of a strawberry crop for the growers and their customers are the quantity and quality of fruit produced.
Fruit being supplied to retailer customers must meet specifications in terms of fruit size and shape, both of which are strongly influenced by pollination.
If a strawberry flower is not successfully pollinated it does not develop into a class 1 fruit suitable for sale.
Protected growing environments pose challenges with pollination of flowers by natural means, and commercial growers rely on the introduction of beehives into tunnels.
These hives contain native species of bumblebees or honeybees and, even when pollinators are introduced to strawberry crops, there are situations when weather conditions or crop stage result in sub-optimal pollination leading to economic losses through a drop in yield or fruit quality.
Singaporean company, Polybee, has developed drone technology to aid pollination in food crops using changes in airflow to assist pollen movement around the flowers.
The aim of this project is to introduce this technology into commercial UK strawberry crops with a view to improving the success and uniformity of flower pollination, especially at critical stages of the season when poor pollination can lead to reductions in yield and fruit quality, and a subsequent drop in crop margins.
By improving pollination, this project aims to benefit strawberry growers through improved yields of top-tier class 1 and premium fruit, and the potential to extend the UK production season.
Katie Clark, Project Manager at the UK Agi-Tech Centre, said: “As the Project Manager for ‘Precision Pollination for Higher Strawberry Productivity and Quality,’ I am thrilled to be involved in this pioneering initiative that brings together expertise from across the global agri-tech sector and the UK soft fruit industry.
“This project represents a critical step towards leveraging innovative drone technology to enhance strawberry yield and fruit quality, addressing the challenges of pollination in protected growing environments.
“By combining cutting-edge drone solutions with the knowledge of leading growers and agri-tech specialists, we aim to drive meaningful advancements in food security and sustainability for the UK and beyond.”
Lucy Wilkins, Breeding Programme Director at Angus Soft Fruits, commented: “We are excited to be part of this innovative collaboration with Polybee and the UK Agri-Tech Centre.
“Enhancing pollination by integrating advanced technology alongside bumblebees promises significant benefits for our growers, ultimately improving yields of Class 1 and premium-tier strawberries.
“By bringing together experts from across the agricultural technology sector and our progressive berry growers, we anticipate meaningful improvements in both fruit quality and overall yield.”
The benefits of this work will extend beyond the growers to their marketing groups and retail customers through increased production and surety of supply of high-quality fruit.
For more information about the UK Agri-Tech Centre and the work it does, visit www.ukagritechcentre.com
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