First Agricultural Robotics Innovation Conference Gains Great Success
On July 9, 2024, the First Agricultural Robotics Innovation Conference, themed "Harnessing Global Wisdom to Foster International Cooperation," was grandly held at Qingshan Lake Science and Technology City in Lin'an District. The conference was hosted by the International Alliance of Robotics Associations (IARA), the Hangzhou Association for Science and Technology, and Zhejiang A&F University. It was organized by the Management Committee of Qingshan Lake Science and Technology City, the Zhejiang Robot Industry Development Association, the Hangzhou International Civil Technology Exchange Center, the Hangzhou Digital Economy Federation, and the Hangzhou Automation Technology Institute (HATI).
The co-organizers includethe Zhejiang Digital Village Development Alliance, the Hangzhou Digital Village Development Promotion Association, Zhejiang University of Technology, the Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Zhejiang Future Farm Industry Technology Alliance, the Hangzhou Automation Society, the Lin'an Qingshan Lake Science and Technology Innovation Institute, the Israel Intelligent Rototics Center (IIRC), the Malaysia Robotics and Automation Society (MyRAS), Nordic Startup Ventures (NSV), and Hangzhou Yunhe Zhilian Technology Co., Ltd.
The distinguished guests attending the conference included Professor Zhang Libin, Chariman of IARA and former President of Zhejiang University of Technology; Professor Wu Chuanyu, President of Zhejiang Ocean University; Sun Yongrong, President of the Hangzhou Association for Science and Technology; Wang Juhong, Vice President of the Hangzhou Association for Science and Technology; Sun Kuifa, Director of the Agricultural Mechanization and Digitization Division of the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Zhu Tao, Deputy Director of the High-End Equipment Division of the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology; Lin Jing, Deputy Director of the Zhejiang Provincial Agricultural and Rural Big Data Development Center; Xu Wenbo, Deputy Director of the Hangzhou Municipal Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau; Cai Yufeng, Director of the Agricultural Mechanization and Digitization Division of the Hangzhou Municipal Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau; Mei Kai, Deputy Director of the same division; Jiang Xiaobin, Director of the Hangzhou International Civil Technology Exchange Center; Wang Li, Member of the Party Committee and Deputy Director of the Management Committee of Qingshan Lake Science and Technology City; Professor Yosi Lahad and Professor Oren Fuerst, Co-Founders of the Israel IIRC, Ishkandar Baharin, President of MyRAS; Finnish artificial intelligence and robotics expert Jussi Gillberg; Wendy Cheng, Partner at NSV; Professor Wang Yunkuan, Professor at the Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Ye Hongbao, Deputy Director of the Agricultural Equipment Research Institute at the Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Xu Chi, Director of the HATI; Bu Yan, Deputy Director of HATI; Wang Guoyao, Executive Vice President of the Zhejiang Robot Industry Development Association; Zhang Xuequn, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of IARA; Associate Professor Xia Fang, Deputy Director of the Digital Village Research Institute at Zhejiang A&F University; and leaders from various departments of Lin'an District and Qingshan Lake Science and Technology City, along with representatives from agricultural robotics companies, experts, and scientific researchers.
The offline attendance totaled over 200 people. The conference was conducted in a hybrid format, combining in-person and online participation. The online sessions were live-streamed on multiple platforms, garnering widespread attention and enthusiastic responses from industry peers, research institutes, and entrepreneurs.
At the opening ceremony of the conference, Chairman Zhang Libin, Chairperson Sun Yongrong, Director Sun Kuifa, and Deputy Director Wang Li delivered speeches. They unanimously emphasized that agricultural robots are a vital high-tech tool in the agricultural sector, playing a significant role in the development of modern agriculture worldwide, particularly in agricultural nations. They noted that agricultural robotics technology not only represents a key milestone in the modernization of agriculture but also drives the evolution of modern agriculture toward greater intelligence and precision, thereby enhancing the overall competitiveness of national agriculture.
The conference featured the signing ceremony of a strategic cooperation agreement between the IARA and Qingshan Lake Science and Technology City. The two parties will collaborate closely to advance the development of the robotics industry in Qingshan Lake Science and Technology City, promote international exchanges, cooperation, and growth in the robotics sector, and jointly establish an international hub for agricultural robotics innovation and an industrial incubation platform.
Following this, the inauguration ceremony of the International Agricultural Robotics Innovation Center was held. The center, jointly initiated by IARA, Zhejiang A&F University, Zhejiang University of Technology, HATI, and the Management Committee of Qingshan Lake Science and Technology City, will focus on key research areas such as intelligent recognition and positioning technologies for agricultural robots, innovative designs for highly adaptable end-effectors, multi-terrain mobile platforms, and low-cost, high-efficiency agricultural robots. Through international collaboration, technological innovation, talent cultivation, and industrial implementation, the center aims to effectively integrate cutting-edge technologies, leading products, and expert resources in the global agricultural robotics field. This initiative seeks to accelerate technological innovation and the commercialization of research achievements in agricultural robotics, thereby promoting high-quality and sustainable development in global agriculture.
During the conference report session, distinguished speakers gave insightful presentations: Yosi Lahad gave a talk on "An Overview of Agricultural Robotics Development in Israel"; Professor Wu Chuanyu from Zhejiang Ocean University shared his view on "Innovative Practices in Tea-Picking Robots"; Ishkandar Baharin discussed about "Research and Application of Agricultural Robots in Malaysia"; Professor Wang Yunkuan presented on "Applications of Flexible Manufacturing Systems in Smart Agricultural Equipment"; Professor Ni Zhongjin from Zhejiang A&F University explored "Preliminary Research on Key Technologies for Orchard Facility Robots"; and Deputy Director Ye Hongbao from the Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences spoke about "Demands and Practices in Agricultural Robotics." These presentations offered diverse perspectives on the development and innovative applications in the field of agricultural robotics.
In the afternoon session, more expert reports continued to inspire the audience: Associate Professor Wang Hongcheng from Hangzhou Dianzi University shared insights on "Agricultural Inspection Robot Practices"; Dr. Jussi Gillberg from Finland discussed "Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture"; Deputy Director Bu Yan from the Hangzhou Automation Technology Institute presented on "Practices in Grape Harvesting Robots"; Wang Shuren, Farm Manager at Jiaxing SHIHE Organic Farm, shared his experiences in "Building Unmanned Vegetable Farms"; and Wendy Cheng from NSV delivered a report on "An Overview of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Development in Nordic Countries." Each expert, drawing from their specialized fields, provided practical insights and innovative ideas in agricultural robotics, offering fresh inspiration and new perspectives for the attendees.
The final segment of the conference, titled “High-Level Dialogue on Agricultural Robotics,” was moderated by Xu Chi. The panel included Luo Xuqin, Director of the Lin’an Agricultural and Rural Information Service Center; Professor Oren Fuerst, Co-Founder of IIRC; Chairman Chai Xiuhong of Zhejiang Sanxianghao Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd.; Luo Xueming, Deputy General Manager of Hangzhou Zhengxing Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd.; and Xia Mingfei, Investment Director of Zhejiang University Sci-Tech Innovation Group.
The discussion revolved around the challenges and opportunities in the development of agricultural robotics. Panelists shared insights from their respective professional fields, addressing bottlenecks in the industry, strategies for collaborative innovation, industrial implementation, and the role of capital in the sector. The dialogue was lively and in-depth, with experts exchanging diverse perspectives and sparking ideas.
