by Fruit picking robots are autonomous machines built to pick fruits from orchards with minimal human intervention. Equipped with computer vision and delicate robotic grippers, these robots can identify ripe fruits, gently grasp them, and separate them from the plant without damaging the fruit or plant. Major applications include harvesting berries, apples, oranges, and other soft fruits that are delicate and difficult for humans to harvest efficiently. Adoption of fruit picking robots allows orchards to reduce reliance on seasonal labour and minimize production costs.
The global fruit picking robots market is estimated to be valued at US$ 728.07 Mn in 2023 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 11% over the forecast period 2023 to 2030, as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights.
Market Dynamics:
Reduction in Labor Cost: Automated fruit harvesting using robots avoids dependency on seasonal farm labour and minimizes production costs for orchards. Manual fruit picking is a labour intensive process and farmers face challenges in recruiting sufficient labour during peak harvesting seasons. Adopting fruit picking robots addresses this issue and allows significant savings on harvesting costs per acre through higher throughput and reduction in wage bills. This rapid return on investment is a key driver promoting adoption of fruit harvesting robots.
Focus on Development of Computer Vision Technology: Major players are focusing on advancements in computer vision, robotic grippers, and machine learning algorithms to further enhance the harvesting capabilities and capabilities of fruit picking robots. This includes developing models for accurate fruit detection, improved grasping techniques for delicate fruits, and autonomous operation of robots in orchards. Continuous technological upgrades aim to improve harvest rates and reduce fruit damage, making automated fruit harvesting more commercially viable and competitive to manual methods.
Segment Analysis
The fruit picking robots market can be segmented by component, robot type, application, and geography. The component segment can be further divided into hardware and software. Within hardware, the robotic arms segment dominates due to high precision, flexibility and strength required for fruit picking applications. The robot type segment includes wheeled, legged, and other robots. The wheeled robot segment is dominant as wheels provide greater stability and mobility on uneven orchard terrains compared to legs. In terms of application, the strawberry picking segment generates the highest demand for fruit picking robots due to difficulty in manually harvesting strawberries efficiently.
PEST Analysis
Political: Developed countries are promoting automation androbotics technologies to address farm labor shortages. Favorable agricultural policies and subsidies in Europe and North America boost adoption of fruit picking robots.
Economic: Rising labor costs and shrinking farm workforce is driving the need for cost-effective mechanized fruit harvesting solutions. Fruit picking robots reduce harvesting time and costs significantly.
Social: Growing consumer demand for organic and blemish-free fruits increases pressure on farms to harvest more efficiently while ensuring food quality and safety. Robots alleviate dependency on seasonal migrant workers.
Technological: Advancements in computer vision, artificial intelligence, robotics and IoT improve robots’ ability to accurately identify, harvest and transport ripe fruits without damage. Development of lightweight, low-cost robots expands applications.
Key Takeaways
The Global Fruit Picking Robots Market Size is expected to witness high growth. The global fruit picking robots market is estimated to be valued at US$ 728.07 Mn in 2023 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 11% over the forecast period 2023 to 2030.
Regional analysis comprises: The Asia Pacific region dominates the market currently with over 35% share majorly due to large fruit production in China. China accounts for over 30% of the global fruit harvest and is focusing strongly on agricultural automation and robotics. Other emerging markets in Asia Pacific include India, Japan and South Korea.
Key players operating in the fruit picking robots market are DHL International GmbH, AnyLogistix, LogicManager, Inc., SAP Arbia, Avetta, LLC, EXIGER, MetricSream, JAGGAER, CURA, Marsh LLC. Key players such as DHL and SAP provide integrated logistics solutions while EXIGER and MetricSream offer specialized risk management and compliance monitoring software platforms respectively.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
