In a pioneering move, a collaboration between The UK Agri-Tech Centre, Upcycled Plant Protein (UPP), and The James Hutton Institute is pushing the boundaries of agricultural technology with the development of an automated broccoli harvester.
This innovation forms the core of SusProt: Sustainable Plant Protein from Vegetable Crop Sidestreams, a project aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of protein production while addressing farm labour shortages.
At the heart of this initiative is the harvester's advanced use of computer vision and machine learning, allowing it to precisely identify broccoli heads that are ready for harvesting. Unlike conventional methods, this system does more than just harvest the edible heads—it cuts the entire broccoli plant. The previously unused portions of the plant are then upcycled into hypoallergenic, high-protein ingredients suitable for food products like meat alternatives or ‘hybrid’ items that combine reduced meat content with plant-based proteins.
This automation holds significant potential for broccoli farmers, many of whom struggle to harvest all their crops due to ongoing labour shortages. The consortium notes that rising labour costs have further exacerbated these issues, increasing farmgate prices and ultimately pushing costs onto consumers. By introducing automation into the harvesting process, the project seeks to mitigate these challenges, boosting productivity and reducing waste.
Mark Evans, CEO at Upcycled Plant Protein, highlights the importance of the automated system: “In addition, getting the farmers’ perspective of what the technology needs to achieve is extremely important, and we have been fortunate to have received some fantastic input from the agricultural community as to how we can help them address their business issues.”
The automation not only streamlines harvesting but also transforms sustainability within the sector. By using a proprietary process, the project has achieved pilot-scale production of high-quality protein from 70% of the broccoli plant that would typically go to waste. The next step is to bring processing closer to the farms, reducing transport costs and further enhancing efficiency.
Sue Gordon, project manager at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, commended the fast pace of development made possible by the project’s use of automation: “This has allowed us to move quickly and reduce the capital intensity of developing a complex stack of technologies.”
This automated broccoli harvester represents a leap forward in both farming efficiency and environmental sustainability, offering a practical solution to labour shortages while upcycling plant waste into valuable protein ingredients.
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