Chelsea medal for uni’s Robocrops

Chelsea Flower Show visitors have been shown the future of horticulture this week thanks to the University of Lincoln. 

Its RoboCrops: Plant Selection, Beyond the Visible exhibit has been awarded a Silver Gilt medal at the Royal Horticultural Society show for demonstrating the use of robotics, artificial intelligence and plant science.

Presented by the University’s Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology (LIAT), the exhibit is situated within the show’s GreenSTEM zone and was visited by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan (above with LIAT’s Marc Hanheide) who discussed how the technology could support wider food production challenges in the future.

The exhibit also proved popular with visiting school groups, many fascinated by the combination of robotics, plant science and artificial intelligence on display. The university hopes the stand will help inspire more young people to consider careers in STEM and horticulture - particularly those with ties to rural or agricultural communities who may not traditionally see robotics, AI or data science as relevant careers.

Professor Elizabeth Sklar, Director of LIAT, said: "We've had tremendous interest from visitors regarding our interdisciplinary approach and received many compliments on the ways in which our stand highlights the need for collaboration across different STEM disciplines in order to address complex problems related to food security."

At the heart of the exhibit is PhenAIx, an advanced robotic phenotyping system - a health scan for plants -  which uses robotics, AI and advanced imaging to capture detailed information about a plant’s growth, structure and health - including subtle signs of stress, disease risk and hidden differences in plant performance that are invisible to the human eye. 

By helping researchers and breeders identify stronger, healthier and more resilient plants faster it could support the development of plant and crop varieties that are more tolerant to heat, drought or disease and need fewer resources to thrive.

Professor Simon Pearson MBE, Founding Director of LIAT, added: “We’re delighted that the exhibit has been recognised with a Silver Gilt medal at RHS Chelsea Flower Show. One of the most rewarding aspects we’ve already seen this week has been the level of curiosity and engagement from visitors, particularly young people, around how robotics, AI and plant science can work together to address some of the major challenges facing horticulture and food production.”