Cornell Secures $7.5M USDA Grant to Establish Center of Excellence for Orchard Robotics

Cornell University's Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering has been awarded a four-year, $7.5 million grant by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Specialty Crop Research Initiative to establish the Center of Excellence for Orchard Robotics. Led by Professor Manoj Karkee alongside co-director Matthew Whiting from Washington State University, the nationwide consortium brings together nine academic institutions, agricultural extension specialists, and technology firms to build autonomous robots tailored for orchard management. The initiative addresses severe economic pressure on fruit growers, particularly in the apple industry, where labor costs have escalated from roughly 45 percent of total operating expenses 15 years ago to over 60 percent today. By automating repetitive and physically demanding field tasks—such as flower pollination, fruit thinning, harvesting, and inter-row weeding—the project aims to safeguard farm profitability while mitigating occupational hazards like ladder falls and repetitive motion injuries. The collaborative project utilizes cutting-edge artificial intelligence, deep neural networks, and computer vision systems that allow robots to navigate dense tree canopies, distinguish foliage from fruit, and execute delicate mechanical tasks without damaging produce. Furthermore, researchers are creating digital replicas, or 'digital twins,' of orchards to assist growers in predictive yield modeling and crop analysis. Beyond engineering, the Center will study the economic, cultural, and operational factors influencing farm technology adoption, ensuring that commercialized robotic systems remain affordable and practical for agricultural producers.