Tonight I'm heading over to Newport in Shropshire to talk to Harper Adams University Agricultural Engineering Lecturer, and co-creator of the World-renowned Hands Free Hectare, Kit Franklin. 

We talk about his early life growing up on the family farm near Cirencester, and how his Father's construction business sparked an initial interest in engineering.

We discuss his time studying at Harper Adams, and the wide range of practical experience he gained during his time there, as well as when his interest in robotics in agriculture started to develop.

We hear about a trip to Vietnam and Japan after Uni, which involved a motorcycle repair with a silicon-covered chopstick, before we go on to discuss his return to the UK and decision to take a job as a research assistant at Harper Adams, before eventually becoming a full Agricultural Engineering Lecturer.

We then talk in detail about Hands Free Hectare. What it is, how it came about, the challenges they faced getting it off the ground, why it's so unique, the costs involved, the practical difficulties, the World-wide attention it's received, and what's next for robotics in agriculture.

All this and much, much more.

Kit's at the very forefront of UK agricultural innovation, and it was an absolute pleasure to talk to him tonight, and learn more about Hands Free Hectare. 

Check it out folks.. 

 

 

Episode sponsors:

AFTP - AgriFood Training Partnership. Please visit www.aftp.co.uk/podcast to check out a wide range of agriculture-related online courses. For 10% discount on selected courses, use the word 'podcast' at checkout!

NFU Cymru - for more information please visit www.nfu-cymru.org.uk

 

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