The Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) welcomed delegates from across industry, academia and farming to Harper Adams University on 21 October for its 2026 Landwards Conference, Automation in Agriculture: From Innovation to Impact.
Bringing together engineers, researchers, technology developers, manufacturers and farmers, the conference examined how autonomous systems are moving beyond research projects and pilot schemes to deliver practical benefits on commercial farms.
Opening the conference, IAgrE President Kit Franklin reflected on the rapid evolution of agricultural automation over the past decade. He noted that while much of the early focus had been on proving that autonomous systems could work, the conversation has now shifted to demonstrating commercial value, reliability and measurable on-farm benefits.
Delegates were welcomed by Professor Ken Sloan, Vice-Chancellor of Harper Adams University, who highlighted both the importance of agricultural engineering to the future of food production and the need to encourage more young people into careers within the sector.
Throughout the day, speakers showcased a broad range of technologies and applications that illustrated how automation is beginning to address some of agriculture's most pressing challenges, including labour shortages, productivity, sustainability and operational efficiency.
Research developments were highlighted by Dr Nestor Deniz of Harper Adams University, who provided an insight into ongoing work involving humanoid robots and advanced robotic systems for horticultural applications such as fruit harvesting. While the technology offers significant long-term potential, Dr Deniz also outlined the considerable technical challenges involved in enabling robots to work effectively in the highly variable and unpredictable conditions found in agricultural environments.
Looking at practical applications closer to market, Dan Whitear of Warwick Agritech described efforts to automate tree grading within forestry nurseries. His presentation demonstrated how specialist robotic solutions can help overcome labour constraints while improving consistency and efficiency in repetitive tasks.
James Miller, Chief Executive of Earth Rover, explored the use of artificial intelligence and machine vision to identify and remove weeds with unprecedented precision. By targeting weeds individually, these systems have the potential to reduce dependence on conventional crop protection products while supporting more sustainable production systems.
A recurring theme throughout the conference was the critical importance of designing safety, security and reliability into autonomous technologies from the outset.
Rhian Griffith of Flynt Technology explained how safety considerations must be embedded at every stage of the development process, from individual components through to complete autonomous systems operating within real-world farming environments.
The practical reality of agricultural automation was brought into sharp focus through presentations from farmers already deploying autonomous technologies in their businesses.
Dermot Tobin of PDM Produce UK shared experiences of using laser-weeding systems within vegetable production. He outlined how the technology has significantly reduced labour requirements while delivering improvements in crop quality and consistency.
William Mumford, Chief Executive of AS Communications and an AgXeed distributor, discussed his experience of operating autonomous machinery in commercial farming situations. He highlighted benefits including reduced fuel consumption, lower soil impact and increased operational flexibility, demonstrating how automation is already generating measurable efficiencies on-farm.
The conference's closing panel discussion provided an opportunity for delegates to explore some of the wider implications of agricultural automation. Discussion ranged from cybersecurity and machine resilience to workforce development, data management and public perceptions of autonomous technologies.
Cybersecurity emerged as a particularly important topic. Panellists recognised that as autonomous systems become increasingly connected and data-driven, protection against malicious interference and cyberattack must become an integral part of system design and operation.
The future skills required by agricultural engineers also featured prominently during the discussion. Panellists agreed that tomorrow's engineers will require an increasingly diverse blend of practical engineering knowledge, digital skills, software understanding and systems thinking. While traditional mechanical expertise will remain important, future careers are likely to involve working across disciplines that combine engineering, robotics, artificial intelligence and data management.
Delegates also debated how automation could affect farms of different sizes. While autonomous technologies are often associated with large-scale agriculture, examples presented during the conference suggested that smaller family farms may have some of the most to gain. By helping farmers overcome labour shortages and enabling greater operational flexibility, automation could play an important role in supporting the long-term viability of family farming businesses.
Concluding the event, Kit Franklin reflected on the remarkable progress made within the sector.
"Ten years ago, one of the questions I was regularly asked by journalists was when autonomous farming would become normal. At the time my answer was that it would become unsurprising to see autonomous agricultural systems operating on farms by the middle of the 2020s. Looking at what we have heard today, I think we can say that moment has arrived."
One of the strongest messages to emerge from the conference was that the future of automation in agriculture will not be determined solely by technological innovation. Success will depend equally on delivering systems that are commercially viable, trusted by users, supported by appropriate skills and capable of solving real farming challenges.
As automation continues to mature and move into mainstream agricultural practice, agricultural engineers will remain at the centre of ensuring that innovation delivers meaningful impact for farmers, food production and the wider rural economy.
Further information about IAgrE conferences and events can be found at www.iagre.org.