Over the past six years, UK tomato production has experienced a significant decline, nearly halving due to escalating energy and labor costs, along with workforce shortages. This trend presents a challenge for the food manufacturing sector as it navigates rising production costs and the need for innovation.
As a result, approximately 80% of tomatoes consumed in the UK are now imported. This reliance not only heightens carbon inefficiencies but also exposes the supply chain to various risks. In light of these pressing issues, a consortium of plant scientists, commercial growers, and engineers, led by CambridgeHOK, is set to leverage £3 million in funding to revamp tomato cultivation practices.
The initiative, known as ‘The AutoTom Project,’ aims to develop miniature tomato varieties utilizing precision breeding techniques. By growing these plants at a higher density, researchers expect to potentially double yields while preserving quality standards, which aligns with current food and drink industry innovation trends.
Designed specifically for automated handling and harvesting, these smaller, uniform plants will minimize the need for manual labor during the growing cycle. CambridgeHOK plans to adapt its automated cultivation technology to transport these plants through the greenhouse using conveyor belts. This transition is projected to decrease labor costs by over 70%, improving overall food processing technology.
“AutoTom is a highly-ambitious and innovative project which, if successful, could support a significant shift toward more localised tomato production in the UK, and improve the resilience of domestic food supply chains by reducing the reliance on imports,” stated project chair Patrick Harte.
“The system also has the potential to lower transport-related emissions and initial early estimates suggest yields could double, in what would be a major boost to the industry.
“With tomatoes representing a £1.8 billion market in the UK, we hope the AutoTom project can help restore competitiveness to British growers and we’re excited by its potential to reshape how tomatoes are grown in the UK.”
This initiative receives funding from The Farming Innovation Programme, supported by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in collaboration with Innovate UK. It marks one of the first projects to receive funding following the 2025 implementation of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 for plants in England, which streamlines the regulatory process for gene-edited crops, thus reflecting evolving food and drink regulations.
