The British Standards Institution (BSI) has published a code of practice designed to support the safer use of the farm robots or autonomous mobile machines (AMM) that look set to help farmers operate more sustainably, address labour shortages and respond to increasing global demand for food.
Use of autonomous mobile machinery in agriculture and horticulture – Code of practice (BS 8646:2023) provides guidance on the safety and risk management processes that can be applied to farming operations, information on instructions and training for safe operation and maintenance of AMMs, and advice on farm planning, including hazard controls and emergency preparedness.
The document also clarifies the roles and responsibilities of owners and operators, designers and manufacturers, and importers and distributors to reduce uncertainties.
The guidance has been developed to enable everyone involved in the manufacture and use of farm robots to take advantage of the available technology. It was produced with the assistance of a committee that included representatives from: Harper Adams University, JCB, The Ramblers Association, Innovate UK, John Deere, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, Agricultural Engineers Association, Health and Safety Executive, Small Robot Company, Institution of Agriculture Engineers, University of Lincoln and the National Farmers’ Union of England and Wales.
The initiative is in response to a global drive towards the uptake of AMM in agriculture and horticulture to support labour shortages and a need for more intensive crop management. But despite their benefits, the use of AMM can also present risks, especially when integrated with staffed farm operations. The new BSI standard provides best practice guidance on their introduction and safer use, while also encouraging wider adoption of AMM, particularly in smaller enterprises.
“Smart farming can bring huge benefits to society, including more economical production of crops, sustainable production and greater food security, as well as helping the agriculture sector to meet Net Zero targets,” BSI’s associate director of sustainability and energy, Sebastiaan Van Dort, said.” However, AMM owners and operators also need to ensure that the introduced technology is used safely.
“Using IT including robotics has the potential to accelerate progress towards a sustainable world while delivering higher, more-profitable growth and improved food quality. This new code of practice can facilitate the development of the AMM manufacturing sector, helping to protect the future of farming and benefit us all.”
