Automation in Agriculture: From Innovation to Impact
IAgrE President Kit Franklin invites you to Harper Adams University—home of the world’s first Hands Free Farming project—for the 2026 Landwards Conference: Automation in Agriculture – from Innovation to Impact.
Agricultural automation is reshaping how food is produced, managed and delivered. This conference brings together the people leading that change: engineers developing next-generation technologies, businesses turning ideas into practical solutions, and farmers driving adoption on the ground.
Through perspectives from across the development chain, the programme will examine how far automation has progressed, the challenges still to overcome, and the real-world impact already being achieved.
Looking ahead, speakers will explore the next decade of agriculture—highlighting emerging technologies, evolving farm practices, and the critical role automation will play in delivering a more productive, efficient, and sustainable future.
We have a great selection of Speakers and will be finishing with a Panel Discussion, hosted by our President, Kit Franklin, to ensure we answer all your questions.
Nestor Deniz - Principal Doctoral Research Assistant
Nestor Deniz gained his PhD in Simultaneous Control and State Estimation for Nonlinear Systems Subject to Bounded Disturbances Using Moving Horizon Techniques from the Universidad Nacional del Litoral. He is currently working at Harper Adams University, specialising in humanoid robots for agricultural applications, autonomous navigation systems, and reinforcement learning.
Dr Deniz will be delivering a technical talk on his latest research into implementing dexterous manoeuvres in humanoid robots for apple harvesting.
Dan Whitear - Lead Mechanical Engineeer at Warwick Agritech
Dan is Lead Mechanical Engineer at Warwick Agritech, part of WMG at the University of Warwick, where he develops robotic systems for agriculture, forestry and horticulture. His work focuses on creating autonomous technologies that help address labour shortages and improve operational efficiency.
At the IAgrE Conference, Dan will discuss the development of robotic tree seedling sorting systems designed to automate the assessment and grading of young trees in forestry nurseries. He will explore how robotics can improve productivity, consistency and scalability in nursery operations.
James Miller - CEO Earth Rover
We are Looking forward to hearing James Miller, CEO of Earth Rover, share a strategic, commercially focused case study on how robotics and AI are reshaping the economics of farming.
James is a Chartered Engineer with more than 25 years of experience across the automotive, agriculture, rail and defence sectors. He has worked as a consultant and as Group CTO for one of the largest tractor manufacturers in the world, before joining Earth Rover, a company developing autonomous technologies for sustainable food production.
James will present Earth Rover's CLAWS™ robotic platform, which uses artificial intelligence, machine vision and real-time crop data to support autonomous field operations. Powered by batteries and solar energy, the technology offers a low-carbon approach to weed control and crop management, helping growers reduce inputs while supporting their net-zero ambitions
From powertrain engineering to business process transformation, James has led projects across multiple industries — giving him a uniquely strategic lens on how robotics and AI can reshape agriculture.
Rhian Griffith - Consultant, Flynt Technology
Rhian Griffith has been working in the agricultural industry since 2021, with roles focused primarily on mechanical design and product safety compliance. Earlier in her career, she gained experience in safety, reliability, and quality assurance through airworthiness projects in the aerospace industry.
Now at Flynt Technology, much of her work has looked at autonomous machinery, where she applies her knowledge to help ensure innovative products meet safety and compliance requirements. She enjoys understanding complex engineering challenges and finding practical solutions that enable products to perform safely and reliably in the real world.
Rhian’s talk will explore how automation safety can be integrated into commercial manufacturing — turning cutting-edge technology into practical, safe, scalable solutions.
Dermot Tobin - Managing Director Farming at PDM Produce UK Ltd
In his role overseeing the farming division, Dermot deals directly with the daily and long-term challenges of large-scale vegetable farming in the UK.
He has been a vocal advocate for bringing technology into the fields. Because almost all supermarket lettuce is traditionally cut by hand, he has helped lead PDM’s involvement in agri-tech partnerships (such as the "Lettuce Project" funded by Innovate UK) to develop prototype robotic lettuce harvesters. He has frequently highlighted how Brexit, inflation, and changing work trends have caused severe shortages in seasonal farm workers, making automation vital for the industry's future survival.
PDM have been early adopters of innovative technology, investing in autonomy to improve quality and production. Dermot will review the on farm use of this cutting edge technology and explain the benefits to the business.
William Mumford - CEO, AS Communications (UK) Ltd & AgXeed Distributor
William Mumford is a fifth-generation farmer from Cambridgeshire and founder of AS Communications (UK) Ltd, a company that has been providing agricultural technology solutions since 1989. With more than three decades of experience in precision farming, GPS guidance and farm technology, William is widely recognised for helping farmers adopt innovative solutions that improve productivity, efficiency and sustainability.
As both a farmer and technology supplier, William brings a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing modern agriculture. Through ASC Automation, he is at the forefront of introducing autonomous machinery to the UK market, including the AgXeed range of driverless tractors.
At the IAgrE Conference, William will discuss the practical role of autonomous tractors in farming today, exploring how AI-driven machinery can support sustainable production, reduce labour pressures and improve operational efficiency while working with existing farm equipment and systems.
We have some great sponsorship packages available so if you would like to get involved and promote your business please contact Sarah
Thank you to our Sponsoring partners:
