Technology news from Fresh Produce Journal
Technology news stories with a direct relevance to the UK fresh produce business, including updates on production and harvesting systems, sorting and grading machinery, packaging, coldstorage and controlled atmosphere, digital management, robots and automation, vertical farming, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.
‘Glastonbury’ of regen farming set to welcome thousands
No-till cultivation, integrating trees with veg production and food policy debates among the wide-ranging sessions relevant to fresh produce sector at Groundswell regen farming festival
Dyson’s ‘ferris-wheel’ growing system brings 250 per cent yield boost
The innovation is the latest technology incorporated into company’s Lincolnshire strawberry glasshouse
DP World wins triple crown at 2025 Multimodal Awards
Global trade enabler DP World has achieved a triple win at the 2025 Multimodal Awards in Birmingham, securing the Port Company of the Year title for the third consecutive year alongside two additional prestigious industry recognitions
Adaption key to success as FPJ celebrates 130th year
Editor Fred Searle was joined by predecessors Michael Barker and Tommy Leighton on stage at Festival of Fresh to reflect on how the magazine has survived despite a tough publishing climate
UK agtech firm RootWave raises $15mn in funding
Firm’s electrical weed control is suitable for a range of horticultural and other crops
Defra budget cut by 2.7 per cent at Spending Review
AI, energy and R&D among the winners at Rachel Reeves’ Spending Review, while overall funding at Defra will be cut back
Sollum and Optimal look to advance AI greenhouse control
The companies combine dynamic lighting and AI climate control as they aim to create more precise controlled environment agriculture
New Bayer tomato varieties offer protection against ToBRFV
The company is using multi-stacked virus-resistant genes to bring more durable protection against ToBRFV mutations
Final hours to register for Festival of Fresh 2025
Don’t miss FPJ’s summer festival in Spalding, featuring big-name speakers, top-level networking, and exclusive tours of the Worldwide Fruit packhouse
World-first data ‘cube’ to revolutionise soil health mapping
Growers will have access to cutting-edge soil health modelling that has used AI to build digital twin of earth and map soil patterns through time and space
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Festival of Fresh 2025 attracts top retail buyers
A number of Britain’s biggest grocers will be at FPJ’s summer festival on 5 June for a day of top-level networking, insightful interviews and festival fun
M&S extends Tenderstem season as Plan A bears fruit
Premium retailer has worked with growers to extend British veg season using polytunnels and is trialling precision pollination to boost strawberry yields
Chilled logistics firm has been hacked, BBC reveals
Major service provider to British supermarkets insists business remains unaffected but admits it is subject of ransomware attack
Thanet Earth’s seventh glasshouse to open in November
Construction is underway on Thanet Earth’s seventh high-tech glasshouse in Birchington, Kent, which will produce an additional 150mn tomatoes a year
Robotics firm Muddy Machines to wind down
Exclusive: The firm behind the robotic harvester Sprout is winding down operations after failing to secure new funding, as founder warns industry will struggle to face challenges ahead
Hugh Lowe Farms trials polytunnel solar panels
Electric Berry project powers farm tools and equipment using flexible solar panels attached to top of its polytunnels, with no extra land required
BelOrta brings Belgian cherry business under one roof
Company says move will help it achieve greater efficiency and longer shelf-life for its fruit when new season begins
British Berry Growers report calls on government and retailers to step up
Detailed report highlights uncertain economic outlook and calls for better support on retail returns, labour, planning permission, and funding
Maersk upgrades IoT connectivity across its fleet
Shipping giant has begun the roll-out of its new digital connectivity platform OneWireless aboard 450 vessels
CropCam offers tech boost to vertical farming sector
AI and machine learning is at the heart of the new system