The UK’s agricultural workforce need to be substantially upskilled to reap the potential benefits of robotics and automated systems (RAS) on farms.
That’s the conclusion of a report from the UK-RAS Network, which looked at the skills requirements of the agri-food and agri-tech sectors in relation to the technological developments of ‘agriculture 4.0’ such as collaborative robots used for tasks on farms, unmanned aerial vehicles and AI-assisted analytics tools.
Lack of standardised RAS training hinders workforce readiness
The researchers found that while training in RAS is well catered for at undergraduate degree level and beyond, vocational and apprentice-level training is lacking, with limited standardised approaches and no UK-recognised qualification for RAS operation.
The lack of standardisation leads to training generally being carried out by the manufacturers of specific technologies, they noted, meaning it is customised to their hardware and software rather than providing an understanding across systems.
Improvements in non-technical skills are also required, they said, including to integrate animal behaviour and welfare with new technologies, as well as manage legal, ethical and cybersecurity considerations.
Noting research from Europe suggesting that 20% of workers in the agri-food sector are overqualified for their jobs, they suggested there is a need for appropriate training at the right level for a changing sector. Skills training also needs to work both ways, they stressed, with technologists understanding how farms work an equally important consideration to farm workers understanding the technology they are working with.
They underlined that farming has constantly evolved from its very origins, adapting to new challenges and government interventions, with the need to produce high volumes of food amidst labour shortages and environmental pressures simply the latest test the industry has faced.
“The progress made in the development of RAS in recent years provides indispensable tools for tackling the agrifood labour shortage— provided that the agri-food workforce can be made ready to fully exploit these opportunities,” the authors wrote.
Seven recommendations to bridge the digital skills gap
To address the issue, the authors made seven recommendations that education institutes, business leaders and advisors should adopt to make a coordinated effort to drive improvements, including:
- Provide a clear definition and understanding of Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) within agri-food.
- Develop standardised training packages that are applicable across multiple employers and technologies.
- Offer pathways into agri-tech for individuals from non-farming backgrounds to broaden the skills base.
- Ensure that qualifications and training are stackable and offer progression routes between academic and vocational learning.
- Include non-technical competencies in training, such as animal welfare, ethics, and data privacy.
- Promote collaboration between agricultural experts and technologists during development and deployment of new systems.
- Support lifelong learning opportunities to help current workers adapt to technological change.
“Now more than ever, a range of digital literacy and skills are needed, [such as] computer programming and robotic engineering, telecommunications networking and cybersecurity, image processing and data analytics,” said Professor Robert Richardson, chairman of the UK-RAS Network.
“With the use of collaborative robots, autosteer, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Variable Rate Technology (VRT) and the plethora of associated information provided by Internet of Things (IoT)-based solutions, those in the agri-food sector need to be able to use cutting edge technologies to analyse new data, apply new knowledge, develop new skills and assess new opportunities to enhance their farm business performance.”
Key takeaways
- Vocational and apprentice-level training in robotics and automation systems (RAS) is lacking in the UK, despite strong provision at degree level.
- The absence of standardised training leads to a fragmented approach, with manufacturers providing customised training tailored to their specific technologies.
- Non-technical skills, such as understanding animal behaviour, welfare, and managing legal, ethical, and cybersecurity considerations, are crucial for effective technology integration.
- Collaboration between technologists and farmers is essential to ensure that technological developments align with practical farming needs.
- The UK-RAS Network has proposed seven recommendations to address these issues, including standardising training, enhancing non-technical education, and fostering collaboration between stakeholders.
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