Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

Advancements in artificial pollination of crops: from manual to autonomous

Leilei He, Xiaojuan Liu, Yusong Ding, Xudong Jing, Haojie Dang, Bryan Gilbert Murengami, Lamin L. Janneh, Rui Li, Spyros Fountas, Jayme Garcia Arnal Barbedo, Longsheng Fu

Computers and Electronics in Agriculture · 2025

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Summary

This 2025 review synthesises advancements in artificial crop pollination, charting the evolution from labour-intensive manual approaches to emerging autonomous pollination systems. The paper appears to examine technological innovations, their comparative effectiveness, and practical deployment considerations across different horticultural contexts. As suggested by the international authorship and journal scope, the review likely addresses global trends in mechanisation of pollination to address labour constraints and pollinator decline.

UK applicability

UK horticulture, particularly protected cropping (soft fruit, vegetables) and orchard production, faces labour availability pressures. Autonomous pollination technologies reviewed may offer pathways to reduce dependency on manual labour and managed pollinators, though adoption will depend on cost-effectiveness and regulatory acceptance for food crops.

Key measures

Technological approaches to pollination; efficiency metrics of manual versus autonomous methods; crop-specific applicability; adoption barriers and opportunities

Outcomes reported

The study reviews advancements in pollination technology, transitioning from manual techniques to autonomous systems. It synthesises evidence on technological developments, efficacy, and applicability across crop types.

Theme
Farming systems, soils & land use
Subject
Arable cropping systems
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
International
System type
Horticulture
DOI
10.1016/j.compag.2025.110067
Catalogue ID
SNmokbvt1i-5972h0

Topic tags

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