Robotic harvesters, advanced sensors, pollinator attractants, an online market place to reduce waste, and decision support systems for improved traceability and productivity ' are among the technologies to be presented by members of Agri-Tech East, in an exciting new Innovation Insights feature at Fruit Focus, 17th July 2019, East Malling Research Centre.

Dr Belinda Clarke is the director of Agri-Tech East, an independent business-focused membership organisation that brings together growers, technologists, and researchers to accelerate innovation in the sector. This will be the first time that the organisation has had a presence at Fruit Focus.

Belinda explains:' 'Last year we took Innovation Insights to Cereals and the format ' lightning presentations of a wide range of emerging technologies ' proved very popular with farmers and growers. The networking session was animated and provided an excellent opportunity for people to discuss their particular issues directly with others who might have a solution.'

'Industry input is vital to ensure that emerging technologies are fit for purpose and our members are looking forward to gaining this input and a better understanding of the issues that growers are facing.'

FruitFocus is the leading technical event for producers of soft and orchard fruit and vines. It is attended by about 2,000 growers and industry professionals.

Speakers at the Fruit Focus Innovation Insights include: '

• Antobot is an agri-tech startup focusing on robotics technology and its application in agriculture.
• Consus Fresh has developed an intelligent software-based system to reduce the burden of audits, improve efficiency and increase productivity.
• Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology (LIAT), a world leading university developing cutting-edge technologies for agriculture and horticulture, will be showcasing their latest thinking around novel glasshouse design for fruit production.
• Olombria uses chemical volatiles to manage pollinating fly species, thereby increasing crop productivity and ensuring sustainable food harvests for the future.
• Outfield provides data from aerial images that let growers and farm managers improve decision-making.
• Prodata Weather Systems is a specialist UK supplier of cost-effective weather-monitoring equipment.
• Hutchinsons is a leading agronomy company and provides advice independent of manufacturers and supported by an in-house research and development programme.
• Soil Moisture Sense provides complete weather stations including sensors for soil moisture, soil temperature, air temperature, relative humidity, light and rain.
• Timac Agro is a specialist in plant and animal nutrition with extensive expertise in crop nutrition, soil conditioning and fertiliser efficiency.
• University of Essex has one of the UK's leading plant productivity research groups.
• Cambridge Consultants creates and delivers breakthrough products and services. It has recently developed Mamut, an autonomous robot for harvesting.
• Weather Logistics specialises in climate impacts using seasonal forecasting techniques.
• Natural Resources Institute (University of Greenwich) offers wide-ranging expertise including post-harvest handling of perishable produce, quantification of post-harvest losses, food safety, grain storage, and market economics.

Fruit Focus 2019 is to be held at the NIAB EMR, East Malling Trust Estate, East Malling, Kent, ME19 6BJ. Agri-Tech East will be hosting the Innovation Insights session in the Innovation & Tech Hub Theatre at 11:00 on the 17th July 2019.