Crop Harvesting Robots Market Analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, Middle East and Africa - US, China, Germany, UK, France - Size and Forecast 2023-2027

Crop Harvesting Robots Market Forecast 2023-2027

The crop harvesting robots market size is forecast to increase by USD 2.38 billion, at a CAGR of 28.72% between 2023 and 2027. The market's expansion hinges on various factors, notably the heightened emphasis on farm mechanization, which is driven by the shortage of workers available for farm labor and the growing imperative to adhere to industrial standards. The trend toward mechanization is accelerating due to the need for efficiency, precision, and productivity in agricultural operations. Additionally, the modern agricultural landscape demands compliance with regulatory requirements and quality standards, pushing farmers and agricultural businesses to adopt advanced machinery and technologies. As labor scarcity continues to pose challenges, the integration of automation, robotics, and smart farming solutions becomes increasingly crucial for sustainable and profitable agricultural practices.

What will be the Size of the Market During the Forecast Period?

To learn more about this report, Download Report Sample

Market Segmentation

This market report extensively covers market segmentation by type (semi-autonomous robots and fully-autonomous robots), product (fruit, vegetable harvesting robots, and grain harvesting robots), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa). It also includes an in-depth analysis of drivers, trends, and challenges. Furthermore, the report includes historic market data from 2017 to 2021.

Market Customer Landscape

The report includes the adoption lifecycle of the market, covering from the innovator’s stage to the laggard’s stage. It focuses on adoption rates in different regions based on penetration. Furthermore, the report also includes key purchase criteria and drivers of price sensitivity to help companies evaluate and develop their growth strategies.

Global Market Customer Landscape

Market Dynamics

The market is driven by various factors, including the increasing demand for automation in the agricultural process, especially on big farms with large field grain crops. The adoption of autonomous crop harvesting machines and crop harvesting robots is on the rise due to their accuracy, speed, and ability to perform selective harvesting. However, challenges such as the upfront cost of fully automated systems, the need for Waste reduction, and adapting to different fruit and vegetable sizes remain significant hurdles for widespread implementation across small farms and regions with varying Network layouts. Our researchers analyzed the data with 2022 as the base year, along with the key drivers, trends, and challenges. A holistic analysis of drivers will help companies refine their marketing strategies to gain a competitive advantage.

Key Market Driver

Increasing focus on farm mechanization is the key factor driving the global market growth. Agricultural mechanization is a crucial component of agricultural modernization, transforming the agricultural process through the integration of automation and mechanical technologies. In numerous countries, big farms are increasingly adopting big tractors, Drones, and autonomous crop harvesting machines, reshaping the agricultural landscape. This shift towards automation of agriculture and harvesting robots is driven by the need for Waste reduction and improved yield.

Moreover, harvesting robots are gaining popularity as an effective solution for harvesting on farms, greenhouses, and nurseries. They are utilized in various countries as an efficient means of addressing the labor shortage problem during the harvest season. Commonly utilized harvesting robots include lettuce harvesters, cucumber harvesters, wheat harvesters, barley harvesters, and pepper harvesters. Some government agencies are actively promoting agricultural mechanization to enhance production and capacity while ensuring the accuracy and selective harvesting of fruit and vegetables. This trend not only aids in Waste reduction but also contributes to Yield optimization in both big farms and small farms, ultimately supporting the Agri-tech industry and addressing the demands of the Global population. These factors will drive the growth of the market during the forecast period.

Significant Market Trends

Expansion of greenhouse farms will fuel the global market growth. One of the factors influencing the demand for robotic harvesters is the increase in greenhouse work. The lack of skilled workers to perform various tasks in greenhouses has increased the demand for the automation of greenhouse operations. Some government agencies also provide financial support for the development of greenhouse farms. For example, in India, as part of the National Horticultural Mission, the Indian government encourages greenhouse flower production by subsidizing greenhouse structures. Greenhouses protect plants from extreme climatic conditions.

Countries like Russia and France are effectively counteracting cold weather conditions with their greenhouses, and some greenhouses are working hard to expand their facilities. For example, in June 2020, Revolution Farms, an indoor farm that grows lettuce and leaf lettuce, announced plans to add two new acres of greenhouse space. Also in April 2020, BrightFarms announced plans to build its 280,000-square-foot hydroponic greenhouse in Hendersonville County, North Carolina, USA. Therefore, expansion plans of end-users are likely to increase the demand for harvesting robots, which is likely to accelerate the growth momentum of the market during the forecast period. 

Major Market Challenge

The high maintenance cost can majorly impede the growth of the market. The process of crop harvesting by a crop harvesting robot includes crop recognition, crop removal, crop placement in bins, and vehicle movement to the next crop. Collecting fruits and vegetables usually involves a long harvest period. The long harvest season increases the demand for multiple harvesters. This increases end-user effort. In addition, they are equipped with advanced electromechanical and computer technology, and their integration increases the cost of equipment.

Additionally, the continued use of harvesting robots increases the need for regular maintenance, machine repairs, and battery charging. Therefore, end users must bear additional operating and maintenance costs. High machine and maintenance costs are a major concern for end users. In developing countries,  cost factors limit the demand for such machines, thus hindering the growth of the market during the forecast period. 

Who are the Major Market Players?

Companies are implementing various strategies, such as strategic alliances, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, geographical expansion, and product/service launches, to enhance their presence in the market.

Advanced Farms Technologies Inc: The company is involved in developing robotic technologies for the agriculture industry. It also offers different types of crop harvesting robots.

Agrobot: The company designs and develops robotic solutions for different agricultural activities. It also offers different types of crop harvesting robots.

We also have detailed analyses of the market’s competitive landscape and offer information on 20 market companies, including:

• Advanced Farms Technologies Inc.
• Agrobot
• Antobot Ltd.
• AvL Motion BV
• Clearpath Robotics Inc.
• Deere and Co.
• Dogtooth Technologies Ltd.
• FFRobotics
• Harvest Automation
• Harvest CROO Robotics LLC
• MetoMotion
• Muddy Machines Ltd.
• Ondas Holdings Inc.
• Rowbot Systems LLC
• Small Robot Co.
• SwarmFarm Robotics
• Teradyne Inc.
• Tevel Aerobotics Technologies
• Torguga Agricultural Technologies Inc.
• Vision Robotics Corp.

The report offers clients a deeper understanding of the market and its players through a combined qualitative and quantitative analysis of the companies. The analysis classifies companies into categories based on their business approach, including pure-play, category-focused, industry-focused, and diversified. companies are specially categorized into dominant, leading, strong, tentative, and weak to understand the dos and don’ts of business which in turn can help a client make the best decision.

Market Segmentation by Type, Product, and Geography 

Type Analysis

The semi-autonomous robots segment will contribute a major share of the market, as it has great potential in crop harvesting. Semi-autonomous robots can perform various tasks such as soil preparation, sowing, weeding, pest control, and crop harvesting with the help of human presence. Agriculture can be made more efficient by automating many labor-intensive and repetitive tasks. 

Get a Customised Report as per your requirements for FREE!

The semi-autonomous robots segment showed a gradual increase in market share with USD 321.35 million in 2017 and continued to grow by 2021. Semi-autonomous robots are more efficient than human labor because they can work 24/7 and do not need breaks. It can work in difficult conditions such as slopes and extreme temperatures. It can detect and pick ripe fruits and vegetables with precision, minimizing the risk of crop damage. It can also be used for planting crops. These robots precisely place seeds into the soil at a given depth and distance, ensuring optimal growing conditions. These reduce manpower and improve seeding accuracy and efficiency. It brings many benefits to farmers and increases agricultural efficiency. Therefore, the market is expected to grow during the forecast period.  

Product Analysis

Based on the product, the market has been segmented into fruit and vegetable harvesting robots and grain harvesting robots. The fruit and vegetable harvesting robots segment will account for the largest share of this segment. Collecting fruits and vegetables is labor-intensive. Therefore, it is inevitable that the number of workers for collection work will be reduced. Vegetables commonly harvested by fruit and vegetable collection robots include cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, and lettuce. Fruits such as strawberries and oranges are considered cash crops and therefore need to be harvested carefully, hence the demand for fruit and vegetable collection robots. Most fruit and vegetable growers follow the practice of quick harvest, but some fruits and vegetables may not be ready for harvest or are overripe, resulting in large amounts of waste. Fruit and vegetable collection robots can be programmed to only harvest ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables. Such selective harvesting possibilities have increased the demand for fruit and vegetable harvesting robots among growers. The launch of such products with enhanced features is likely to accelerate the growth momentum of the market during the forecast period.

Regional Analysis

North America is estimated to contribute 40% to the growth by 2027. Technavio’s analysts have elaborately explained the regional trends, drivers, and challenges that are expected to shape the market during the forecast period.  

For more insights on the market share of various regions View PDF Sample now!

Growing awareness of farmers towards the use of smart agriculture and agricultural automation to increase productivity and address labor shortage issues is driving the growth of the market in the North American region. Government funding for American agricultural mechanization to improve crop yields is also boosting the market growth. By integrating AI into agricultural machinery, human-assisted automation has great potential to speed up farm work and reduce human stress.  Government agencies in the region provide financial support for the development of robotic farming in the region. Some of the suppliers operating in markets have received investments from other agricultural machinery suppliers to develop new variations of harvesting robots. 

Segment Overview

The market report forecasts market growth by revenue at global, regional & country levels and provides a market growth analysis of the latest trends and growth opportunities from 2017 to 2027. 

• Type Outlook 
  • Semi-autonomous robots
  • Fully-autonomous robots

• Product Outlook 
  • Fruit
  • vegetable harvesting robots
  • Grain harvesting robots

• Region Outlook 
  • North America
    • The U.S.
    • Canada
  • Europe
    • U.K.
    • Germany
    • France
    • Rest of Europe
  • APAC
    • China
    • India
  • South America
    • Chile
    • Brazil
  • Middle East & Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • South Africa
    • Rest of the Middle East & Africa

Market Analyst Overview

The market is witnessing significant growth driven by various factors such as advanced farming technology, automation of agriculture, and technological innovations in the agricultural sector. The emergence of agri-robots and autonomous crop harvesting machines has revolutionized farming practices, particularly in addressing challenges like labor shortages and expensive labor. Companies like AppHarvest, Bear Flag Robotics, and Future Acres are leading the charge with their high-tech harvesting robots and fully autonomous solutions.

Moreover, artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision algorithms play a crucial role in enabling fully automated and semi-automated harvesting processes. These technologies enhance efficiency, precision, and productivity in crop harvesting operations, reducing post-production damage and waste while ensuring quality food production. The market also faces challenges such as the high expense of automation and upfront costs associated with adopting high-end technology. However, with investment plans and technological developments, the industry is poised for growth, offering time-saving solutions, waste reduction, and value chain optimization. As the global population grows and agribusiness evolves, the market continues to expand, catering to small farms and large field grain crops alike, with a focus on health & safety, economic recovery, and technological advancements.

Market Scope
Report Coverage	Details
Page number	155
Base year	2022
Historic period	2017-2021
Forecast period	2023-2027
Growth momentum & CAGR	Accelerate at a CAGR of 28.72%
Market growth 2023-2027	USD 2,384.71 million
Market structure	Fragmented
YoY growth 2022-2023(%)	27.81
Regional analysis	North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa
Performing market contribution	North America at 40%
Key countries	US, China, Germany, UK, and France
Competitive landscape	Leading companies, Market Positioning of companies, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks
Key companies profiled	Advanced Farms Technologies Inc., Agrobot, Antobot Ltd., AvL Motion BV, Clearpath Robotics Inc., Deere and Co., Dogtooth Technologies Ltd., FFRobotics, Harvest Automation, Harvest CROO Robotics LLC, MetoMotion, Muddy Machines Ltd., Ondas Holdings Inc., Rowbot Systems LLC, Small Robot Co., SwarmFarm Robotics, Teradyne Inc., Tevel Aerobotics Technologies, Torguga Agricultural Technologies Inc., and Vision Robotics Corp.
Market dynamics	Parent market analysis, Market forecasting, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID 19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for forecast period
Customization purview	If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Request a FREE PDF sample

What are the Key Data Covered in this Market Research Report?

• CAGR of the market during the forecast period
• Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the market between 2023 and 2027
• Precise estimation of the size of the market size and its contribution to the market in focus on the parent market
• Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior
• Growth of the market across North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa
• A thorough market research and growth analysis of the market’s competitive landscape and detailed information about companies
• Comprehensive market growth and forecasting analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of market companies

We can help! Our analysts can customize this market research report to meet your requirements. Get in touch