Agricultural Engineers fellow joins Harper Adams University

Professor Simon Blackmore has joined Harper Adams University College as Head of Engineering.

A Fellow of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE), and Chartered Engineer, he returns to the UK following a recent spell at the University of Thessaly in Greece and as a visiting professor at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia.

"Both agriculture and engineering face many challenges at this time, often associated with their economic, environmental and social contexts. Research, education and partnerships with business and industry have very important roles to play in rising to these challenges. I’m excited to be joining Harper Adams University College as it is in a unique position in the country to work in Agricultural Engineering, especially for the benefit of such a vital industry. Our work will lead to more sustainable agricultural production systems and help us feed a growing world population, "he said.

Professor Blackmore is closely involved in the development of robotic machines for the agricultural sector through his company, Unibots Ltd.

It provides progression from robotic prototypes developed in universities, into commercial use in the farming environment. He has worked on projects such as the development of an autonomous tractor, able to carry out a number of tasks by itself, and a robotic Christmas tree weeder.

He has also been leading the EU-funded Future Farm Project which involves 15 universities, research institutes and private companies from 10 European countries. Previously, after helping to pioneer Precision Farming research at Silsoe College, Cranfield University, he headed the Agro Technology group at what is now Copenhagen University. He also co-founded the Nordic School for Biosystems Engineering.