Investing in technology to address labour shortages in UK fresh produce and horticulture: How does this redefine standards of good agricultural practice

IF 1.8 Q2 ECONOMICS

Local Economy Pub Date : 2024-09-10 DOI:10.1177/02690942241283187

Lilian Korir, Archie Drake, Martin Collison, Carolina Camacho Villa, Elizabeth Sklar, Simon Pearson, Louise Manning

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The global agri-food sector is becoming more fragile as a result of supply chain shocks like COVID-19, Brexit and conflict, which is posing a growing challenge to the horticultural industry. As a result, it is becoming clearer how crucial seasonal agricultural migrant workers are to ensuring food security. Delivering GAP requires taking into account the effects of COVID-19 and Brexit on the UK’s fresh produce and horticulture sectors as well as the potential for increased demand for automation and Agriculture 4.0. In the medium and long run, the market conditions may favourably accelerate automation and the adoption of Agriculture 4.0 as a workable solution to the workforce shortage. The greatest opportunities for automation and the application of new technology will be found in the transport, harvest, and post-harvest processes. Investment in automation and technology adoption depends on access to finance, appropriate training and upskilling, and other stakeholders’ support (e.g. by retailers). We conclude that understanding the need for automation, embracing Agriculture 4.0, utilising labour schemes, and envisioning how work and farming will change in the future is critical when examining GAP in the context of an integrated approach within the fresh produce and horticulture sectors.

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投资技术，解决英国新鲜农产品和园艺业的劳动力短缺问题：如何重新定义良好农业规范标准

由于 COVID-19、英国脱欧和冲突等供应链冲击，全球农业食品行业正变得越来越脆弱，这对园艺行业构成了越来越大的挑战。因此，季节性农业移民工人对确保粮食安全的重要性日益明显。实施 GAP 需要考虑到 COVID-19 和英国脱欧对英国新鲜农产品和园艺行业的影响，以及对自动化和农业 4.0 需求增加的潜力。从中长期来看，市场条件可能有利于加速自动化和农业 4.0 的应用，以此作为劳动力短缺的可行解决方案。自动化和新技术应用的最大机遇将出现在运输、收获和收获后流程中。对自动化和技术应用的投资取决于能否获得资金、适当的培训和技能提升，以及其他利益相关方（如零售商）的支持。我们的结论是，在生鲜产品和园艺行业中采用综合方法审查 GAP 时，了解自动化需求、拥抱农业 4.0、利用劳动力计划以及设想未来工作和农业将如何变化至关重要。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Local Economy ECONOMICS-

CiteScore

3.20

自引率

6.20%

发文量

期刊介绍： Local Economy is a peer-reviewed journal operating as an interdisciplinary forum for the critical review of policy developments in the broad area of local economic development and urban regeneration. It seeks not only to publish analysis and critique but also to disseminate innovative practice. One particular concern is with grassroots community economic development strategies and the work of voluntary organisations, considered within the context of wider social, political and economic change.