Next month the University of Lincoln will exhibit at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, showcasing how robotics, artificial intelligence and plant science are shaping the future of horticulture.
Presented by the University's Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology (LIAT), the exhibit – RoboCrops: Plant Selection, Beyond the Visible – will demonstrate how these technologies are being applied to address real-world challenges facing the food manufacturing sector.
At the heart of the exhibit, which will feature in the show's GreenSTEM zone, is PhenAIx, an advanced robotic phenotyping system that uses imaging and AI to analyse plant characteristics that are invisible to the human eye. By capturing detailed insights into plant health, growth and performance, the system has the potential to significantly accelerate plant breeding and support the development of more resilient, sustainable crops.
© University of Lincoln
Visitors to the stand will be able to see the technology in action, as plants are scanned and analysed in real time – demonstrating how human expertise and intelligent systems can work together to improve how we grow and select plants. The exhibit also highlights the exciting and diverse STEM career opportunities underpinning this work, from robotics engineering and AI to plant science and data analysis, which will play a vital role in driving a successful, sustainable and resilient horticulture sector in the future.
Professor Simon Pearson MBE, Founding Director of LIAT, said: "Chelsea Flower Show offers a unique platform to illustrate how robotics and AI can support the future of horticulture, a research priority for LIAT. Being part of the GreenSTEM zone allows us to showcase how science and technology are already being applied to address real-world challenges facing growers and the wider agri-food sector."
Professor Elizabeth Sklar, Director of LIAT, added: "Our exhibit demonstrates a collaborative human-robot environment that helps address issues in food security. The introduction of robotics and AI technologies can accelerate plant breeding processes by giving boring, repetitive tasks to robots and dedicating people to tasks that require more skill and expertise, with the goal of developing plants that are more resilient to environmental challenges and produce higher yield, ideally with fewer resources."
The exhibit highlights the University of Lincoln's position at the forefront of agri-tech innovation, bringing together expertise in robotics, artificial intelligence and plant science to deliver practical, real-world solutions for horticulture and the wider agri-food sector, while helping to develop the skills needed for the next generation of innovation.
Associate Professor and LIAT Director of Teaching and Learning, Dr James Wagstaffe, said: "Horticulture offers exciting and rewarding career paths, and our exhibit shows how a growing mix of STEM skills is opening the door for more people to shape our sustainable food systems and creating healthier environments."
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show takes place from 19–23 May 2026.
Source: University of Lincoln
