A follow up to a NFU study into the financial implications of National Living Wage (NLW) for UK Horticulture shows the dramatic cost increases to the sector over the last decade.
Since the introduction of NLW in the UK (1st April 2016), the minimum salary has increased by over 34% from £6.50 to £8.72. In that same time period the median sales price of Broccoli has only risen 9%.
With the added factors of Brexit and the current COVID-19 pandemic affecting seasonal labour recruitment from overseas, labour costs are looking to increase further for 2021.
A Solution for Broccoli Producers
RoboVeg look to address this issue with their intelligent, selective and automated broccoli harvesters. Each robot arm is capable of harvesting 1,200 heads per hour to specified lengths and crown sizes - that's 1 head every 3 seconds!
The unique vision system ensures that only selective harvesting takes place and provides a map of the heads left in the field to improve crop yields.
Less Wastage + More Produce = PROFITABILITY
The harvesters operates day or night...offering great advantages to harvest during cooler night temperatures, thus reducing refrigeration.
With RoboVeg harvesters:
Reduce your harvesting labour costs
Improve your product quality
Increase your crop yield
Stay in touch with RoboVeg
Source:
ASSESSING THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE NATIONAL LIVING WAGE FOR UK HORTICULTURE
A follow-up paper to the December 2015 Report prepared on behalf of The National Farmers’ Union (December 2020)