Robots in agriculture: China lists 55 established use cases
Each had to be in use in at least one real agricultural setting. Objections are open until Oct. 21, before a final list is set.
China's industry and agriculture ministries have shortlisted 55 robot applications already in use in agriculture as national models, from handling grain to vaccinating pigs. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT, 工业和信息化部) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (农业农村部) published the draft list on Oct. 14 and are taking objections until Oct. 21.
Under the selection rules issued June 9, every entry had to be in use in at least one real agricultural setting, and its robot maker had to apply jointly with the farms, farm-service groups or agribusinesses using it.
By our count, 42 of the 55 entries are for planting, nine for raising livestock, poultry and seafood, and four for processing and storage. Field care accounts for 20 and harvesting for 11, including tea, tomato and lychee pickers. Livestock entries include a robot that gives dairy cows a disinfecting dip and a needle-free vaccine injector for pigs.
The list comes eight months after China's annual farm-policy blueprint put drones and robots at the center of its plans for the first time, Yicai Global reported. The ministries say they will publish a final list and encourage local authorities to back the chosen projects.
Sources: 工业和信息化部 MIIT [1], [2], Yicai Global
Editor: Ian Lamont
