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Agriculture: Robotics

Asked by Callum AndersonLabourDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 4 September 2026UIN 24342

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the barriers to adoption of agricultural robotics by small and medium-sized farms.

Answered by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Defra recognises that small and medium-sized farms can face barriers to adopting any new technology, including high upfront costs, access to finance, skills requirements, uncertainty over returns, connectivity constraints, and integrating new technologies into existing farm businesses. Through the Farming Innovation Programme and ADOPT, Defra is supporting innovation, testing and adoption.

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