Wilkin & Sons Ltd – Embracing Agri-Tech Innovation
Latest News • May 30, 2025
Business Name: Wilkin & Sons Ltd (Tiptree)
Sector: Food & Drink / Agri-Tech
Innovation/Investment:
Wilkin & Sons, famous for its “Tiptree” preserves, is partnering with the University of Essex to develop a low-cost robotic strawberry picker. This advanced technology is designed to tackle agricultural labour shortages and improve harvesting efficiency.
Wilkin & Sons, famous for its “Tiptree” preserves, is partnering with the University of Essex to develop a low-cost robotic strawberry picker. This advanced technology is designed to tackle agricultural labour shortages and improve harvesting efficiency.
What They Did:
With support from a £1.02m DEFRA Farming Innovation Programme grant, the company partnered with the University of Essex’s School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering to trial an AI-powered robot that can pick, weigh, and pack strawberries in just 2.5 seconds. The robot is designed to be modular and could be adapted for other crops like tomatoes or lettuce.
Why It Matters:
This innovation helps secure the future of sustainable farming in the region. It reduces dependency on seasonal labour, increases shelf-life through gentler handling, and positions Wilkin & Sons as a forward-thinking agri-food business.
This innovation helps secure the future of sustainable farming in the region. It reduces dependency on seasonal labour, increases shelf-life through gentler handling, and positions Wilkin & Sons as a forward-thinking agri-food business.
Outcomes So Far:
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Successful prototype trials at Tiptree vertical farms
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Significant cost advantage over existing models (£10k vs. £150k)
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Potential for commercial scalability across UK agriculture
Websites: www.tiptree.com School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering | University of Essex
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