No country in the world produces more strawberry tree fruit than Portugal, but harvesting it is a demanding task. An INESC TEC-developed solution now enables the fruit to be picked using suction technology.
INESC TEC took part in the public presentation of a prototype strawberry tree fruit harvesting machine that it helped develop and which is now close to commercialisation. The robotic solution was demonstrated in Penacova, in the presence of the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and the other partners involved in the consortium.
Developed in collaboration with the company Fravizel, the technology is capable of identifying and collecting strawberry tree fruit through suction, either with or without an operator.
INESC TEC researcher Filipe Neves dos Santos was on site to explain how the prototype, which has been under development for the past two years, is able to identify ripe fruit and harvest it without damaging the tree. The next step is to bring the solution to market within the next year.
“Portugal is the world leader in strawberry tree fruit production, but the sector faces a shortage of labour for harvesting due to the physically demanding nature of the work and the depopulation of inland regions,” explained the researcher.
According to Filipe Neves dos Santos, solutions that automate this process – such as the harvesting robots and machinery developed by INESC TEC and Fravizel – “add value to and ensure the viability of a crop that plays a crucial role in creating natural firebreaks and enhancing the value of forested areas”.
During the visit, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, José Manuel Fernandes, highlighted the need for Portugal to strengthen the strawberry tree fruit production sector. He also pointed to the harvesting machine as an example of Portuguese innovation ready to deliver practical solutions in the field.
The event in Penacova, in the Coimbra district, was attended by a delegation led by José Manuel Fernandes, alongside representatives from Fravizel and Medronhalva, a company dedicated to promoting and adding value to strawberry tree cultivation.
In addition to Filipe Neves dos Santos, INESC TEC was represented at the event by its Director, José Manuel Mendonça.
The strawberry tree fruit harvesting machine was developed as part of the Transformar Agenda, funded through Portugal’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).
Disclaimer: this news piece was translated by AI
News, current topics, curiosities and so much more about INESC TEC and its community!
