patchCROP Feldrobotik-Tag

At the patchCROP Field Robotics Day on April 30, 2024, in Müncheberg, the future of agriculture became tangible. Experts from research, agriculture, and manufacturers of field robots presented digital tools and field robots for agriculture on the fields of the Komturei Lietzen GmbH at the ZALF Landscape Laboratory patchCROP.

The highlight of the Field Robotics Day were the field demonstrations of agricultural robots from various manufacturers: field robots and digital tools are not only designed to save time and resources but also to protect the environment. Autonomous robots are already taking on tasks such as weed control and, with their low weight, are gentle on the soil. The research team of the ZALF Landscape Laboratory patchCROP and the BMBF junior research group SoilRob is focusing on precision farming with robots and digital sensors for the management of small, square fields (called patches) to implement a diverse, biodiversity-friendly crop rotation and flowering strips. With the Field Robotics Day, the research team provided around 130 guests with an insight into research and development in digital agriculture.

Using Diversity and Digitalization for Sustainable Agriculture

In the lecture program, Prof. Thomas Herlitzius from TU Dresden first informed about the current state of technology in robotics and presented the research project "Feldschwarm" (Field Swarm): a networked fleet of autonomous machines aimed at enabling more efficient and environmentally friendly farming. Dr. Markus Gandorfer from the Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture (LfL) provided an insight into the research project "Future Crop Systems". Through a method called strip cropping, where different crops are alternately planted in strips, biodiversity on the fields is expected to increase. The cultivation is complemented by robots that aim to address the labor shortage in agriculture, which became particularly evident during the COVID-19 crisis. Above all, the robots are expected to allow for more precise and environmentally friendly soil cultivation.

Innovations Taking Over the Field

From the industry side, Rodja Trappe from the company Zauberzeug presented the various uses of the "Feldfreund" robot, which is based on an open-source platform and can be adapted for various purposes, from sowing and weed control to harvesting. Johann Oevermann from the company AgVolution presented soil sensors that measure soil moisture and climate stations that send high-resolution measurement data to the cloud, where it is always available to the operation. Christian Heymann, a Berlin-based farmer from the solidarity-based farming initiative SpeiseGut, concluded the lecture program by sharing his experiences with the use of field robots in vegetable cultivation.

Strengthening the Competitiveness of Farms with Robotics

Following the lecture program, a panel discussion took place with Prof. Frank Ewert, Scientific Director of ZALF, farmer Christian Heymann from SpeiseGut, Sven Lake from the DeepFarmBots network, Lutz Kolbmeyer, digitalization expert from the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Climate Protection of Brandenburg (MLUK), and Prof. Thomas Herlitzius from TU Dresden. Under the title "Between Vision and Reality – Field Robotics and Smart Agricultural Technology for a Sustainable Future of Agriculture," the panel discussed the potentials and challenges of digitalization in the agricultural sector.

Sven Lake emphasized that robotics could alleviate the labor shortage in agriculture and improve competitiveness, but also pointed out the need for closer collaboration between agriculture and industry. Christian Heymann advised practitioners to thoroughly research and seek consultation before investing in robotics. He advocated for financial support for the digital transformation of small farms so that they can remain competitive on the global market. Prof. Herlitzius confirmed that for comprehensive digitalization, the digital infrastructure in Germany must be promoted.

The panel discussed data management in agriculture: a balance must be struck between protecting business data and public interest in research and development. Herlitzius advocated for the creation of uniform standards for measurement data and open access to this data to avoid hindering innovations through proprietary systems.

Prof. Ewert emphasized that digitalization could help honor the work of farmers in conservation, as their efforts could be documented in an uncomplicated way. Lutz Kolbmeyer and Prof. Ewert addressed society's willingness to pay for sustainably produced goods at prices that reflect the true cost of production. Prof. Ewert concluded: "A shift in thinking is needed here, as the transformation of agriculture is a societal task."

_{Contributed by patchCrop}