At a time when the agri-food industry is facing increased cost pressures, reinforced sanitary requirements, and rapid changes in consumption patterns, robotics is emerging as a major strategic lever. Long confined to palletizing or heavy handling operations, robotics is now integrated into the heart of processing, packaging, and quality control processes.
According to Global Growth Insights, the global robotics market in agri-food was valued at $2.34 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $10.79 billion by 2032, with an annual compound growth rate of 18.46% between 2024 and 2032. This dynamic reflects a structural shift in the global agri-food industrial tool.
By 2025, over 57,000 robots are expected to be operational in food factories worldwide, representing an increase of almost 38% since 2020 according to a study by Global Growth Insights. This growth signifies a transition from a phase of technological experimentation to the sustainable establishment of automation in industrial models.
The most widespread applications of robotics include packaging and palletizing, accounting for over half of robotic uses. Transformation operations (meat cutting, bakery slicing, ingredient mixing) make up about a quarter of installations. Quality control assisted by industrial vision is also rapidly advancing, particularly in high-volume lines.
Articulated robots dominate the installed base due to their versatility, representing nearly 46% of equipment. Delta robots, especially suited for high-paced pick-and-place operations, occupy about 21% of the market. Collaborative robots, or cobots, are experiencing significant growth in SMEs, offering more flexible integration and accessible entry costs.
Hygienic standards are essential: over 72% of robots deployed in agri-food meet high standards of protection against water and dust (IP67 or higher), crucial in environments subject to intensive washing.
Flexible robotics refers to the use of robots capable of quickly adapting to different products, tasks, or line configurations, as opposed to conventional automation designed for a single repetitive operation. In agri-food, this translates into systems that can change programs based on the product, adapt their gripping tools, collaborate with operators, or be redeployed elsewhere in the workshop. These robots, often connected via IoT and modular, adjust to production variations and uncertainties, replacing the rigidity of traditional automated lines with true operational adaptability.
Collaborative robots are central to this model, designed to work alongside operators without physical barriers thanks to safety sensors, automating repetitive tasks (handling, sorting, boxing) while reducing fatigue, musculoskeletal disorders, and enhancing precision and dexterity. Easy to program and deploy, they open up automation to SMEs and artisanal units.
Flexibility is particularly crucial in agri-food due to product fragility and variability, high production rates, and strict hygiene requirements. Modern technologies now allow the handling of different products with adaptive grippers, quick reprogramming of robots for switching from one packaging to another, and IoT integration to adjust production flow. For example, a robot can switch from shrimp packaging to olives by simply changing the program, reducing downtimes and improving productivity.
Flexible robotics, combining automation, sensors, connectivity, and human-machine interaction, is now a competitiveness lever for all handling, sorting, packaging, or quality control functions, fully aligning with the industrial transformation associated with Industry 4.0. It makes automation accessible to SMEs and large groups, addressing challenges of workforce shortages, product variability, hygiene requirements, and productivity demands.
(Source: Global Growth Insights)
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