Robotics in agricul­ture essential due to labor shortages

The agriculture and horticulture sector is seeing volumes decline once again in 2024 compared to the previous year. However, the financial results of the sector remain positive, supported by stable prices and lower costs. At the same time, the pressure to work more efficiently continues to grow, largely due to ongoing labor shortages.

Decline in production across both animal and plant sectors

Production volumes in the animal sectors continue to decrease, a trend expected to persist into 2025. Dairy farmers are facing constraints from environmental regulations and the impact of the bluetongue virus. In the pig farming sector, government buyout schemes are contributing to a reduction in supply. Poultry farmers are transitioning more rapidly to the Beter Leven Keurmerk certification, which is also leading to a drop in production.

For arable crops like potatoes and onions, preliminary figures indicate a 0.5 percent decline in volume. In greenhouse farming, a dark spring caused a slow start, although the sector managed to recover later in the year.

Efficiency through robotics and reduced dependence on labor

The agricultural sector is increasingly forced to find solutions to address labor shortages. Enforcement of rules on bogus self-employment is making the use of freelancers less straightforward. This primarily affects non-specialist tasks, such as cleaning stables, which are often performed by freelancers.

To reduce reliance on labor, the sector is turning to robotics and automation. While simple processes are relatively easy to automate, more specialized tasks, such as cutting natural products, remain a challenge. Technology like artificial intelligence may play a significant role in managing these complex operations in the future.

With 23,000 freelancers in the sector, accounting for 15 percent of the workforce, the demand for labor remains a crucial factor for the future of agriculture and horticulture.

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