“Farmers need to feel that they still retain control and ownership over food production and take advantage of the opportunities“
Robbie Carroll
How did F6S end up coordinating a project focused on agriculture? We reached out to Robert Carroll, one of the main visionaries behind the original proposal. When asked what makes this project exciting, Robert stated that talk of deeptech and advanced technologies are usually not associated with farmers, especially those removed from industrial operations. But by building an E-Commerce Platform and with training, we have an opportunity to bring emerging technologies into the hands of this undervalued group.
Yet, these advancements include robotics and machines that will inevitably replace more and more human labour and jobs. We asked Robert, who grew on a farm in Ireland, how he felt about empowering farmers towards embracing such technologies when this could mean also replacing the very work they do:
“Farmers need to feel that they still retain control and ownership over food production and take advantage of the opportunities regarding consumer concerns over food miles, environmental issues and sustainability. As robotics takes some of the back-breaking labour out of agricultural production, SUSTAGRI4.0 allows small producers to retain control over their businesses and focus their efforts on upskilling.”
Honestly, we couldn’t have said it better ourselves! This project is looking for that sweet spot, where farmers and agribusiness owners can have more ownership over the food they sell and grow in a way that is both profitable and sustainable, and without the intense physical labour that makes food production an all-consuming endeavour.
To wrap things up, we asked Robert what inspired the idea behind SUSTAGRI4.0:
“The inspiration behind SUSTAGRI4.0 [is the idea that] an expansion of sustainable practices and a food culture that favours local products is ultimately positive for the producer, consumer and society [in terms of] health and economic benefits.”
Robbie Carroll
EU Funded Projects Development Manager at F6S