Ploughing a new course post-Brexit:
How robotics can help fresh produce
suppliers adapt and survive
The uncertainties surrounding Brexit have (PO) scheme, although as with many
made many suppliers of fresh produce other businesses, access to crucial
wary of investing until they know exactly imports such as plant material, machinery
what sort of deal will be struck between and crop protection compounds is also
the UK and European Union before 29 important.
March 2019. However, David Jahn, director
at automation specialist Brillopak, believes
that recent government announcements
mean that now is the time to consider
investment to mitigate the challenges
created by Brexit.
Moves away from direct payments and
other subsidies under the Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP) as a result
of leaving the EU will have much less
effect on plant-based businesses which
are already much more dependent on
market economics than other farming
businesses. For the fresh produce and
crop sectors, the three biggest issues
from Brexit have been access to labour,
future access to markets, and continued
funding for the Producer Organisation
14 FDPP - www.fdpp.co.uk
1. Fresh produce has a great future
Marketing experts agree that health
continues to be the biggest trend driving
consumer eating habits, and consumers
are often willing to pay a premium for
“While there remains a lot of uncertainty, it. Where health can be combined with
not helped by the brinkmanship on both convenience and snacking – as is the
sides during the Brexit negotiations, case with berries and prepared salads
some recent announcements by the – then you have a product that ticks all
government should give growers the boxes. The latest data from industry
and packers more confidence to plan analysts Kantar Worldpanel shows that
investment,” believes David. produce sales are not only growing faster
His thoughts echo those of Jacqui Green,
chief executive of cooperative fruit
supplier Berry Gardens, who told a recent
than the overall groceries market, but
that people buying more produce, and
more different items of produce.
conference: “I genuinely believe that the Professor Tim Lang of the University
people who don’t have a plan in times of London's Centre for Food Policy describes
adversity are the ones who will fail.” In fresh produce as “the good news” of the
fact, David feels that there are a number UK food sector. Retailers also concur
of reasons for fresh produce suppliers to that customers value the provenance
seize investment opportunities presented of British produce, thanks to its quality,
by Brexit sooner rather than later: provenance and environmental footprint.