Family-run berry farm looks to AI and automation to ease workforce challenges

Western Australia's largest blueberry grower, Western Berry, is investing in AI, automation and machine harvesting to address workforce challenges as it expands production. The family-run business plans to triple its production and explore AI-guided pruning. Australia's food producers have expressed concerns about the government's slower visa processing times and limits on working holiday maker numbers, which could reduce access to seasonal labour.

Western Berry's blueberry operation spans 120 hectares and is located 100 kilometres north of Perth, producing just under 1,500 tonnes of blueberries for Australian and Asian markets. The Kwiecien-Fisher family, the owners, are in a significant expansion phase and hope to increase production in the coming years. The company is trialling autonomous technology, such as driverless tractors for foliar spraying, laser-guided weed control, and hauling berries to the pack house.

They also use autonomous technology in photographic packing, grading solutions, and autonomous punnetising. The family is exploring future technologies, including humanoid robots for pruning and AI modelling of future crops, aiming to minimize damage to plants and create a precise farming technique. While technology plays an increasingly important role, Western Berry remains a family-run business, employing over 200 people for picking the crop.