citrus industry mechanical priorities 4-07

8/7/2019 Citrus Industry Mechanical Priorities 4-07

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US Citrus Industry Priorities

Ted Batkin

Citrus Research BoardNational Citrus Research Council


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The US Citrus Industry

Florida 750,000 acres

Primarily a juice industry Approximately 15 percent to fresh market

California 280,000 acres Primarily a fresh pack industry

Texas 28,000 acres

Primarily grapefruit Arizona 28,000 acres

Primarily oranges and lemons


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Strategic Plans are Worthless,

Strategic Planning is Essential

Dr. David SharpDeputy Chief Scientist

Los Alamos National LaboratoryAttributed to Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower


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Why do strategic planning?

To create a method for group strategic

thinking. To act as check points along a defined long

term pathway.

To provide access points for industryparticipation and buy-in.

Because someone said we should..


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Agriculture Faces a Potentially

Crippling Labor Crisis Many crops are facing labor shortage

In some cases, fruit is left rotting on trees Some growers paid more than $20 per bin in

2005

The risk of employing undocumented workers isgrowing

Proposed 2,000-mile border fence


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Global Competition

Foreign production with lower labor costs

Cost of transportation Energy miles per unit comparison

Global consumption trends


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Energy Miles Comparison

Automobile: 1

Air 43 Highway Truck 740

Rail Carload 2,400 Ocean Vessel 3,800


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Mechanization Programs

so far


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What we need are machines

that function like humans

But without the issues of human

behavior.


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Crop Management System

Not just a harvester ..


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Production Management

Crop Size

Fruit Quality Pest Populations

Disease Incidence Water Stress

Fertility Demands


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Marketing Management

Knowing total crop size

Fruit size and quality Pick to Order

Only pick and handle marketable fruit. Reduce unnecessary labor at field and

packing house.


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Systems needs

Mechanically harvest juice product.

Mechanically harvest fresh products. Detect pest and disease populations.

Analyze. tree health Apply crop protection tools.

Track crop production on a per tree basis.


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One system under

development

A multiple commodity program


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The Two-Robot System Provides a

Management System Platform


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Despite Technology, Citrus

Mechanization is Not Yet a Reality

Packing house innovation demonstrates that

machines can handle fresh fruit Quality, Quality, Quality

Affordability is critical


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Research Paradigm

Basic DiscoveryResearch

Lab / Small

Field Testing

Large Scale Field /Grower Testing

Final Testing andProduct Delivery


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The Challenge

Research projects must be analyzed for theirdeliverable output.

What will be the actual product?

How will it be deployed

Will it be cost effective


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citrus industry mechanical priorities 4-07

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