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SOFT GRippers for Autonomous Sensitive Produce harvesting

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The harvesting of fresh and delicate produce remains one of the least automated and most labour-intensive operations in European agriculture, with labour costs reaching up to 50% of total production. Crops such as strawberries, apples, and mushrooms are particularly affected due to their sensitivity to mechanical damage and the need for selective harvesting. At the same time, the sector faces increasing labour shortages, rising costs, and significant post-harvest losses (5–35%), largely caused by handling-induced damage. Existing robotic solutions fail to address these challenges, as rigid or suction-based end-effectors are not suited to unstructured environments and often cause unacceptable levels of bruising.

SOFTGRASP builds on the results of the SoftGrip Horizon 2020 project, which developed and validated patented soft gripper technology for food handling, reaching TRL 4 in greenhouse trials. The project will advance this innovation to TRL 6 by integrating and demonstrating a soft robotic end-effector for strawberry and soft fruit harvesting in real-world conditions. The solution combines soft robotics and AI-based perception to enable adaptive, low-pressure grasping across variable environments.

In line with its proof-of-market focus, SOFTGRASP will deliver a minimum viable product (MVP) validated through field trials, while generating evidence on market demand, user needs, and economic viability. A business strategy and commercialization roadmap will support rapid market uptake.

By addressing both labour shortages and product damage, SOFTGRASP targets a major untapped market opportunity, contributing to reduced waste, increased productivity, and more resilient European agri-food systems.

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Finanzierungsplan

HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation Actions

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Aufforderung zur Vorschlagseinreichung

(öffnet in neuem Fenster) HORIZON-CL4-2026-01

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Koordinator

SCUOLA SUPERIORE DI STUDI UNIVERSITARI E DI PERFEZIONAMENTO S ANNA
Netto-EU-Beitrag
€ 59 875,00
Adresse
PIAZZA MARTIRI DELLA LIBERTA 33
56127 Pisa
Italien
Region
Centro (IT) Toscana Pisa
Aktivitätstyp
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
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€ 59 875,00

Beteiligte (3)