Nocturnal robots which zap plant diseases with UV lights are among the cutting-edge technologies being used to produce premium Norfolk strawberries. Place UK, based at Tunstead, near North Walsham, is one of the UK's leading fruit growers, picking more than 1,500 tonnes of strawberries per year from about 1.5m plants.
Thorvald, an autonomous robot developed in Norway, controls powdery mildew by exposing strawberry plants to bursts of shortwave ultraviolet light, while following a pre-mapped path through the rows in the polytunnels.
The treatment is applied at night to ensure optimal results - while saving the cost, labour and environmental impact of fungicide use. Dan Yordanov, head of fresh at Place UK, said a number of robots are treating about 11ha of strawberries, twice a week.
"There are challenges in terms of pest and disease, especially with the unpredictable weather," he said.
Read more at Eastern Daily Press