Cornell University has received a four‑year, $7.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative to establish a Center of Excellence for Orchard Robotics. The initiative brings together multidisciplinary collaborators to develop AI‑enabled robots for labour‑intensive tasks in tree fruit production, such as thinning, harvesting and pollination, with the goal of boosting efficiency and reducing costs in U.S. orchards.
Addressing Farm Labour Challenges
The grant, anchored in Cornell’s Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, responds to steep rises in farm labour costs—from 30 percent of total costs fifteen years ago to over 60 percent today—and persistent pricing pressure on commodities such as apples. Robotics offers a path toward safer, more sustainable operations and long‑term productivity improvements. ([news.cornell.edu](https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/09/cornell-leads-project-putting-robots-work-us-orchards?utm_source=openai))
Technical and Team Capabilities
Led by Prof Manoj Karkee (Cornell) and co‑director Prof Matthew Whiting (WSU), the project includes soft robotic manipulators, AI vision systems for fruit/tree canopy perception, multiple crop‑cycle functions, and digital twin models for orchards. Broad collaborations span Cornell, WSU, OSU, Penn State, Michigan State, CMU, Stanford, and Fresh Fruit Robotics. ([news.cornell.edu](https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/09/cornell-leads-project-putting-robots-work-us-orchards?utm_source=openai))
Economic Viability and Grower Engagement
- Cost‑effectiveness focus: The project emphasises robots capable of multi‑task operations (thinning, pollinating, harvesting), which growers view as essential for return‑on‑investment. ([news.cornell.edu](https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/09/cornell-leads-project-putting-robots-work-us-orchards?utm_source=openai))
- Grower‑scientist collaboration: Cornell Cooperative Extension will engage growers to gather feedback ensuring system usability and affordability. ([news.cornell.edu](https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/09/cornell-leads-project-putting-robots-work-us-orchards?utm_source=openai))
- Prototype to field testing: Earlier USDA grants supported robot vision and soft‑manipulator development for thinning operations, with prototypes slated for real‑orchard validation. ([govtribe.com](https://govtribe.com/award/federal-grant-award/project-grant-20226702146207?utm_source=openai))
Takeaway: The Cornell‑led Orchard Robotics Centre marks a pivotal step in applying AI and robotics to specialty fruit agriculture. By focusing on multi‑task automation and stakeholder engagement, it aims to deliver practical, cost‑effective solutions to one of farming’s most pressing labour challenges.
