Automated Cauliflower Harvesting

A Lincolnshire based consortium led by Alistair Godwin of United Vegetables has successfully completed the HortLINK Caulicut  project, which has developed the technology basis for automated selective cauliflower harvesting machines. The post project market commercialisation of the Caulicut technology is being led by Richard Pearsons Ltd, who have secured further substantial direct regional funding to build the UK’s first commercial machine.

The UK Cauliflower crop is currently worth £55 million per annum at farm gate prices. Some 80% of this is destined for Supermarkets, which demand high quality standards for freshness, trim and presentation.  Currently, all cauliflowers are harvested manually with the harvester confirming the curd size just before cutting. Manual harvesting brings problems such as the use of expensive gang labour, wastage, damage, and the need to be compliant with new employment legislation.

The Caulicut project used the cauliflower as the model crop, developing sophisticated sensing, selection, cutting and handling technology as the basis for a selective automated harvesting system.  It is expected that the technology will also provide the platform from which new automated mechanical harvesting machinery for other loose leaf and hearted vegetable crops can be developed. Pearsons have obtained patents and have now built the first pre-production unit. 

For further information please contact:-

wayne.kimberlin@pera.com