From Farm to Future: Designing a Roadmap for Robotics in Agriculture
L. Ye (TU Delft - Industrial Design Engineering)
C. van Middelkoop (TU Delft - Human Technology Relations)
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Abstract
This study develops a roadmap to guide the integration of robotic technologies into Dutch agriculture in a responsible manner that benefits farmers and the environment.
The Dutch agricultural sector faces challenges from climate change, labor shortages, and sustainability pressures. Robotics shows promise in addressing these issues through applications like precision farming and reducing physical demands. However, widespread adoption of these technologies has been limited due to barriers like high costs, reliability concerns, lack of awareness among farmers, and uncertainty. A more strategic and coordinated approach is needed to responsibly introduce robotics into Dutch agriculture in a way that benefits all stakeholders over the long run.
An extensive literature review explored technology trends, agricultural challenges, and stakeholder perspectives. Insights informed the creation of a future vision and three-horizon roadmap using a strategic planning process combined with speculative design techniques. Validation gathered feedback from industry experts.
The roadmap envisions autonomous agriculture empowering resilient food systems through three horizons of Raising Awareness, Community Building, and Fostering Wellbeing, towards the future vision:
The future of agriculture is an automated and sustainable system which enables farmers to sustain the longevity and resilience of their farming business.
By providing structured guidance, the roadmap aims to help stakeholders overcome adoption barriers and establish the Netherlands as a leader in sustainable and resilient farming. If adopted systematically, the roadmap could transform Dutch agriculture globally through robotics.