“Our new farm could become a model

“Our new farm could become a model for other farms, but our aim is not to replace human farmers, but to develop a system where humans and machines work together,” Price said. “We want to generate interest in farming, particularly among young people.”

Price said the introduction of robotics will enable the firm to increase production by an additional 30,000 heads of lettuce a day to 51,000 a day between its two farms.

The firm, which supply lettuces to about 2,000 supermarkets in Japan, was quick to point out that the robot farmers will not be androids dressed in waxed jackets and tweed caps. Instead, Spread’s machines look more like conveyer belts equipped with custom-made robotic arms that can transfer lettuce seedlings without harming them.