세계 농업용 로봇 시장 규모는 2023년 140억 8,000만 달러에서 2031년 655억 4,000만 달러에 달할 것으로 예상되며, 예측 기간인 22024-2031년간 연평균 21.20% 성장할 것으로 예상됩니다. 시장은 자동화, AI 및 정밀 농업 기술의 발전으로 빠르게 성장하고 있습니다. 이러한 기계는 작물 심기, 수확, 제초, 모니터링과 같은 다양한 프로세스를 자동화함으로써 전통적인 농업 기술을 변화시키고 있습니다. 그 결과, 효율성이 향상되고 인력에 대한 필요성이 감소하고 있습니다. 시장은 여전히 고유한 농업 작업을 해결하기 위해 설계된 무인 항공기(UAV)/드론, 착유 로봇, 무인 트랙터, 자동 수확 시스템 등 다양한 범주로 나뉘어져 있습니다.
인구 증가로 인한 식량 수요 증가, 지속 가능한 농업에 대한 수요, 농업 지역의 노동력 부족, AI, 머신러닝, IoT 등의 기술 개발로 인해 로봇이 복잡한 작업을 보다 정확하고 안정적으로 수행할 수 있게 됨에 따라 시장 발전에 기여하는 주요 이유는 다음과 같습니다. 정부의 강력한 지원, 기술 개발, 농부들의 인식 개선으로 북미, 유럽, 아시아태평양이 농업용 로봇 도입의 주요 지역으로 부상하고 있습니다.
Deere & Company, Trimble Inc, SZ DJI Technology Co, Ltd와 같은 주요 기업들은 다양한 농업 수요를 충족시킬 수 있는 혁신적인 솔루션을 개발하기 위해 연구개발에 많은 투자를 하고 있습니다. 농업용 로봇의 도입은 스마트 농업과 정밀 농업을 향한 추세에 힘입어 더욱 가속화될 것이며, 전 세계 농업의 생산성과 지속가능성을 향상시킬 가능성이 높습니다. 농업용 로봇은 보다 효율적이고 정확하며 지속 가능한 농업의 형태를 통해 농업 시나리오를 지속적으로 변화시키고 있으며, 이에 따라 시장은 비약적인 성장을 보일 것으로 예상됩니다.
2024년 4월, SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd.는 Agras T50/T25 드론을 해외에 출시하여 인기 있는 Agras 시리즈의 범위를 확장했습니다. 소규모 농작업에 적합합니다. 두 모델 모두 업그레이드된 SmartFarm 소프트웨어와 함께 원활하게 작동하여 항공기 작물 처리 관리를 개선합니다.
2024년 3월, 프랑스에 본사를 둔 SIZA Robotics는 채소 재배에 상업적으로 활용할 수 있는 자율 로봇의 프리 시리즈를 발표했습니다. 이 제품은 보다 지속 가능하고 효과적인 농업 시스템을 개발하기 위해 작업 비용을 절감하고 관리하는 것을 목표로 합니다.
인건비 증가로 농업용 로봇 도입에 박차를 가할 것입니다.
세계 농업용 로봇 도입은 인건비 상승으로 인해 촉진되고 있습니다. 더 많은 지역이 필요한 인력 부족에 직면하면서 이러한 인력을 고용하고 수요를 충족시키는 데 드는 비용이 크게 증가하고 있습니다. 또한, 농업 종사자의 평균 연령이 상승하고 새로운 세대가 농업에 관심을 갖지 않는 것도 농업 종사자들이 더 저렴한 관리 방법을 찾는 요인으로 작용하고 있습니다.
심기, 수확, 제초, 모니터링과 같은 작업에서 농업용 로봇이 더 빠르고 균일한 성능을 발휘하기 때문에 농업용 로봇이 더 나은 대안이 될 수 있는 작업도 있습니다. 많은 시간이 소요되는 반복적인 작업을 자동화함으로써 로봇은 생산 비용을 절감하는 동시에 인적 오류를 줄여 보다 효율적이고 수익성 높은 농산물 생산으로 이어질 수 있습니다. 수확하는 것을 목표로 자율 로봇 모델인 Fieldworker 1을 발표했습니다.
또한 최근 로봇과 AI의 발전으로 비용이 낮아지고 농가가 쉽게 이용할 수 있게 되면서 보급이 가속화되고 있습니다. 따라서 인건비 증가는 농업의 기계화와 로봇 고용을 향한 전 세계적인 움직임에 크게 기여하고 있습니다.
이 보고서는 세계 농업용 로봇 시장에 대해 조사 분석했으며, 시장 규모와 예측, 시장 역학, 주요 기업 현황과 전망 등에 대해 조사 분석했습니다.
Global agriculture robots market is projected to witness a CAGR of 21.20% during the forecast period 2024-2031, growing from USD 14.08 billion in 2023 to USD 65.54 billion in 2031. The market is expanding rapidly, driven by automation, AI, and precision agricultural technology developments. These machines are changing conventional farming techniques by automating different processes such as planting, harvesting, weeding, and monitoring crops. As a result, they have become more efficient, lowering the need for human labor. The market continues to be segmented into various categories, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)/drones, milking robots, driverless tractors, and automated harvesting systems, designed to solve unique agricultural tasks.
The leading reasons contributing to the development of the market consist of the increasing need for food as a result of a growing population, the demand for sustainable agriculture, and the lack of labor in agricultural areas. Technological developments such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things have enabled robots to accomplish complicated duties more accurately and reliably. Due to strong governmental support, technological development, and farmers' awareness, North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific are the leading regions in adopting agricultural robots.
Leading companies such as Deere & Company, Trimble Inc., and SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. heavily invest in R&D to develop innovative solutions catering to diverse farming needs. The adoption of agricultural robots will be further supported by the increasing trend towards smart farming and precision agriculture, which will likely enhance global agricultural productivity and sustainability. The market is set for tremendous growth as it continues transforming the agricultural scenario through more efficient, accurate, and sustainable forms of farming.
In April 2024, SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. introduced the Agras T50 and T25 drones overseas, extending the reach of their popular Agras series. While the T50 is made for large-scale farming efficiency, the T25 is portable and ideal for smaller businesses. Both models operate seamlessly with the upgraded SmartFarm software, which improves the management of aerial crop treatments.
In March 2024, France based SIZA Robotics introduced a pre-series of autonomous robots for use in vegetable farming commercially. The product is aimed at reducing and controlling the costs of operation to develop a more sustainable and effective agricultural system.
Increasing Labor Costs Spur the Adoption of Agriculture Robots
Global adoption of agricultural robots has been prompted by rising labor expenses. The cost of hiring and meeting the demands of such personnel has increased greatly due to more established areas encountering scarcity in regard to the number of workers needed. Another factor that contributes to this aspect is the increasing average age of farmers and the lack of interest among new generations, prompting farmers to look for cheaper management options.
For some tasks, agricultural robots are better replacements as their performance is faster and uniform in areas such as planting, harvesting, weeding, and monitoring. To automate repetitive tasks which consume a lot of time, robots reduce the cost of production while at the same time reducing human errors, leading to more efficient and profitable farm produce. In August 2024, with the goal of harvesting at the same pace and quality as human pickers, Fieldwork Robotics Ltd introduced an autonomous robot model, Fieldworker 1, expected to harvest without sacrificing quality as it is outfitted with spectral frequency, which eliminates human bias from the assessment of berry maturity.
In addition, recent advancements made in robotics and AI have lowered the costs, making them more available to farmers, thus hastening their uptake. Hence, increasing labor costs have significantly contributed to the worldwide movement towards mechanization and employment of robots in agriculture.
Rise of Indoor and Vertical Farming Practices Fuel the Market Growth
Adoption of agricultural robots is being propelled significantly due to the rising popularity of indoor and vertical farming. This modern form of agriculture demands the growth of plants in controlled places such as greenhouses or vertical stacks where the water, nutrients, and light need to be managed precisely. Agricultural robots are especially appropriate for such settings, where space utilization and resource efficiency remain important factors to be considered.
Highly sophisticated robots are fitted with sensitive sensors as well as AI capacities, which enable them to do various functions such as sowing and putting seeds into the ground while observing the wellbeing of crops throughout their growth before finally collecting them in an extremely precise manner. Such automation increases production rates, cutting down on labor expenses, and guarantee uniformity of crop standards.
There are cases of indoor and vertical farming whereby robots help to reduce carbon footprints in agriculture. Urbanization and the need for sustainable agricultural practices have led to a rise in indoor and vertical farms. With the constant demand for local fresh produce, the significance of incorporating agricultural robotics into vertical and indoor farms to offer efficient, eco-friendly, and expandable food production systems is increasing. In May 2023, the autonomous mobile robot, Watney, was launched by the Danish robotics company, Seasony, to address the unique problems associated with indoor and vertical farming. Watney's 80 cm width makes it possible to reach racks in confined passageways. The robot can safely move between humans and equipment in a very little space, using advanced LiDAR technology.
Driverless Tractors to Gain Momentum
Farmers are increasingly looking for solutions that enhance productivity efficiently and economically. Thus, there is a growing trend towards driverless tractors in agriculture. With advanced GPS, sensors, and AI, these autonomous machines can conduct various field operations such as plowing, planting, or harvesting with precision and less human supervision. The rising adoption of driverless tractors is propelled by the desire to address labor shortages, lower operating expenses, and maximize farming techniques.
Eliminating the human need for drivers, these tractors minimize labor costs and enable uninterrupted functioning amid tough weather conditions and at night. Besides, these driverless tractors reduce the chance of human error, improve fuel economy and decrease soil compaction that leads to sustainable farming practices. Robotics and machine learning advancements have made such tractors versatile and dependable on various land surfaces and kinds of crops.
The agriculture sector is adopting technology to enhance its operations, thus making driverless tractors increasingly sought after in the market. In August 2023, New Holland Agriculture, owned by CNH Industrial N.V., launched T4 Electric Power, an all-electric utility tractor which has autonomous features. For a variety of uses, including mixed farms, hay and forage, dairy, livestock, municipalities, greenhouses, and specialty crops, the T4 Electric Power is an excellent option for field operations requiring less horsepower.
Asia-Pacific Market to Grow Rapidly
Agricultural robots are becoming more popular in Asia-Pacific due to profit and sustainability requirements. China, Japan, and India are among the leading economies attracting these investments due to escalating costs of labor accompanied with depletion of farmhands resulting from rural-urban migration; coupled with a rising demand for food occasioned by population growth. Consequently, governments have set out to establish precision agriculture and improve yields through encouraging farmers to use farming technologies by providing them with financial support or giving them favorable policies that will enable them to adopt innovative practices.
In addition, the region boasts of various agricultural activities spanning from paddy fields to big estates, thus catering need for different types of robots such as drones, driverless tractors, and machines for collecting fruits and vegetables. In June 2024, Tokyo-based GMO Internet Group, Inc. launched its new business to rent out AI-based robots to clients for personal use. The business is paying attention to the need for these robots in a variety of sectors, including agriculture. The business model is aimed at filling shortages in the workforce.
The agriculture robots market is anticipated to witness a fast growth trajectory in the Asia-Pacific countries as they keep pouring more resources into technological advancements and agricultural innovations that will revolutionize conventional farming methods while enhancing food security on a global scale.
Future Market Scenario (2024 - 2031F)
With the increasing global population, food demand continues to rise, and the agricultural sector is under immense pressure to raise productivity levels to respond to skilled labor shortages while making the shift towards sustainable agricultural practices. Modern farming is expected to be revolutionized by agricultural robots using AI, machine learning, and IoT, resolving the current issues farmers face.
A variety of agricultural robots with a range of capabilities is expected to grow, including self-driving tractors and drones designed for taking pictures of crops from the top and machines made to weed, prune, and harvest crops.
By deliberately increasing investments in research and development by key market players and globally supportive government policies such as tax breaks, agricultural robots will be adopted much faster.
Key Players Landscape and Outlook
The landscape of the agricultural robots market is characterized by a mix of established industry leaders, innovative startups, and technology giants, competing to develop advanced solutions that enhance farming efficiency and productivity. These players are heavily investing in research and development to introduce cutting-edge technologies such as AI, machine learning, and IoT to create more sophisticated and capable robots. In November 2023, Naio Technologies launched Augmented Autonomy, an innovation that allows every robot in its fleet to function independently of a human operator. This leads to considerable time savings and enhanced productivity. Moreover, the market is seeing an influx of partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions as companies collaborate to combine expertise and expand their product portfolios.
Increasing demand for automation to address labor shortages, rising operational costs, and the need for sustainable farming practices are expected to drive the growth of the market. The market is expected to witness robust growth, particularly in regions such as North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, where technological adoption is high, and government support for digital agriculture is strong. As the industry moves forward, the key players are expected to focus on enhancing the precision, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of their robotic solutions, driving further innovation and adoption across various agricultural applications, including planting, harvesting, weeding, and crop monitoring.
All segments will be provided for all regions and countries covered
Companies mentioned above DO NOT hold any order as per market share and can be changed as per information available during research work.