PHOTO: ANP
EVENTS ▶▶▶
Can robots help produce more food in a more sustainable way?
T BY HUGO CLAVER AND RENÉ KOERHUIS
he International Forum of Agricultur- al Robotics (Fira) is the place to be when it comes to meeting the sec- tor’s players and actively discussing
the use of robots in agriculture. Initiated in 2016 by French robot company Naïo Technolo- gies, the event is now organised by the associ- ation Gofar, the Global Organisation for Agri- cultural Robotics. The exhibition area has meanwhile tripled and the first scientific sym- posium will be organised by the Robagri asso- ciation. Conferences, round-tables and high-quality technical workshops will be the highlight of FIRA 2019. There will be speakers to name but a few, John Deere, AgroIntelli, K.U.L.T., Lely International, Cema, the European Commission, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and OECD.
Conferences and round-tables The first day of the event includes conferences and round-tables intended to be more field-ori- ented, the round-tables being organised by sector (livestock farming, field crops, fruit and vegetables, viticulture) and a technical work- shop for advisors and farmers conducted on the theme “Agricultural robotics: my business is changing. What are the consequences and the support system?” A conference on ethical and societal issues in agricultural robotics will be held by Alexei Grinbaum (Researcher at CEA-Saclay and au- thor of “Les robots et le mal” – “Robots and Evil”). A forward looking conference is also ex- pected with the main focus being on the im- pacts of automation on food quality. Addition- ally, round-tables will be organised to discuss the global market for agricultural robotics per major region, as well as the issues of the stand- ardisation of these autonomous machines in Europe and worldwide.
15 agricultural robots Robot manufacturers who will attend the
On 10 and 11 December, the fourth International Forum of Agricultural Robotics is taking place in Toulouse, France. During this edition of the event, that focuses on agricultural robots, some 15 manufacturers will be attending and showcasing their robots.
event include Naïo Technologies, Ecorobotix, Agrointelli, Vitibot, Tibot, Deepfield Robotics, Sony CSL, Rhoban System, Instar Robotics, Farmwise, Sitia and Meropy.
Pitches and symposia The second day of Fira, 11 December, will put a premium on facilitating meetings and ex- changes between the players of the sector. About 30 pitches will be delivered to address the main challenges of robots, from support to production, through the presentation of the robots on site. For the first time, a scientific symposium on the reliability and security of agricultural ro- bots will be held. This workshop aims to share the latest scientific advances in agricultural ro-
botics with regards to the three following top- ics: security and control, monitoring and deci- sion-making for mobile robots, interaction between mobile robots and tools.
How to get there FIRA takes place on 10 and 11 December at the Centre de Congrès et d’Exposition Diagora in Labège near Toulouse, France. A two-day ticket at the venue costs € 84, but if you buy it in ad- vance online (
www.fira-agtech.com), you pay € 60. Farmers pay no admission. If you travel by car or bus, use 150 Rue Pierre Gilles de Gennes, 31670 Labège as a destina- tion in your navigation system. If you travel by public transport, it takes about 40 minutes from downtown Toulouse.
A weeding robot during a demonstration of new technologies. ▶ FUTURE FARMING | 1 november 2019 37
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