CROPS Evaluation of economic viability, social aspects and sustainability of agricultural robotic systems

In the EU-funded project CROPS a work package was dedicated to economic viability, social aspects sustainability and exploitation of robotic systems. Tools, studies and action plans were delivered to the project to support and guide technical research in the direction that should lead to further implementation that is socially responsible and economically accepted after the CROPS research program. A simulation tool for each CROPS application, to determine the economic viability of: sweet pepper harvesting, harvesting systems in orchards (grapes and apples) and precision spraying are developed. A study on social aspects, standard requirements and other requirements for sustainability, describes the social aspects, economics and sustainable requirements for: sweet pepper harvesting, harvesting systems in orchards (grapes and apples) and precision spraying. The method used is influenced by thinking about CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and the ambition is to provide an understanding of the dynamic relationships between the triple bottom line, people, planet and profit, and to measure and weight the effects of efforts to raise performance levels in all three of these domains. The evaluation on all the aspects within People Planet Profit led to new system requirements which are implemented by the involved work package leaders of the robotic systems. For the sweet pepper harvester the evaluation is positive in general. Specific advantages for robotising the sweet pepper harvesting task are workforce development: employment, education, working conditions, absenteeism. When robots replace human workforce there are no limitations to climate conditions. The climate can be adjusted to the plant needs. Plants grow very well under high CO2 levels, high humidity and high temperatures, under which people cannot work. By keeping windows closed in summer, such high levels with higher yield can be reached. A sweet pepper robot will be profitable when it is introduced rentable into the market. In the long term workforce costs are increasing, but robot costs are still decreasing. A sweet pepper robot will save workforce costs and improve product quality and safety. A negative condition is that robots are expensive. In the beginning the pay-back time might be up to five years and more. Therefore, more initial capital is needed to invest in robots to harvest sweet pepper. For the harvesting system in orchards (grapes and apples) the opportunities are almost the same as for sweet pepper harvesting and are looking positive. However, there are no advantages expected in energy saving due to closing windows in greenhouses. The energy consumption will increase a bit. There will be also initial capital needed which might be difficult to find.