# Episode 69: Robots on the farm - Elizabeth Sklar

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2024-01-19
- Length: 36m
- Episode: 69
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-01-19-episode-69-robots-on-the-farm-elizabeth-sklar
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-sixty-nine-elizabeth-sklar

## Summary

Elizabeth Sklar, Professor of Agri-Robotics at the University of Lincoln and Research Director at the Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology (LIAT), discusses how robotics can improve efficiency and sustainability in agriculture. She outlines three key research themes: robotic phenotyping, crop care, and selective harvesting, highlighting the Co-Fruit project which uses human-robot teaming for soft fruit harvesting. Sklar emphasizes the importance of designing systems that respect low-margin farming economics and the necessity of engaging with end-users like farmers early in the development process. Additionally, she details her work with RoboCupJunior to encourage diverse participation in robotics education from childhood through doctoral studies.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-01-19-episode-69-robots-on-the-farm-elizabeth-sklar#t=8) Introduction: Elizabeth Sklar and LIAT's Mission
- [2:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-01-19-episode-69-robots-on-the-farm-elizabeth-sklar#t=150) LIAT Research Themes: Phenotyping, Crop Care, and Harvesting
- [12:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-01-19-episode-69-robots-on-the-farm-elizabeth-sklar#t=766) Soil Monitoring, Compaction, and Farmer Engagement
- [18:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-01-19-episode-69-robots-on-the-farm-elizabeth-sklar#t=1103) Co-Fruit Project: Human-Robot Teaming in Soft Fruit Harvesting
- [24:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-01-19-episode-69-robots-on-the-farm-elizabeth-sklar#t=1481) RoboCupJunior and Educational Initiatives for Diverse Workforce
- [31:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-01-19-episode-69-robots-on-the-farm-elizabeth-sklar#t=1905) Precision Agriculture and the Future of Agri-Robotics

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology (company)
- University of Lincoln (company)
- Co-Fruit (product)
- RoboCupJunior (other)
- Sustain (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [FIRA 2025 Ag robotics recap](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-10-24-fira-2025-ag-robotics-recap) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [47. Robotic Farming Makes Produce Better & Cheaper](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-12-07-47-robotic-farming-makes-produce-better-cheaper) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [525: Some Sort of Metal](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-05-14-525-some-sort-of-metal) (Embedded.fm)
- [Practical Applications of Embodied AI and Humanoid Robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-10-23-practical-applications-of-embodied-ai-and-humanoid-robots) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Harvesting innovation: The story behind Tortuga's autonomous harvesting robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-02-29-harvesting-innovation-the-story-behind-tortugas-autonomous-harvesting-robots) (The Robot Report Podcast)

## Citing this page

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