Following one of the hottest summers on record, award-winning berry producer Angus Soft Fruits has been harnessing cutting-edge technology to protect Scotland’s beloved berry harvest. By incorporating robotics into the growing process, the business is ensuring top-quality fruit reaches consumers while championing sustainable farming.
This commitment to rethinking modern farming was recently recognised on the national stage when Angus Soft Fruits won the prestigious Business Innovation Award at the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2025.
A key part of this innovation is its work with robotics. For the past two years, its grower cooperative, Angus Growers, has partnered with Saga Robotics to deploy ‘Thorvald’ robots across local farms.
When the sun goes down, these robots deliver targeted ultraviolet-C (UVC) light treatment to the berry plants. The UVC light disrupts the DNA of powdery mildew spores, effectively controlling the disease without the use of traditional fungicides.
This summer, with Scotland experiencing unusually hot and dry weather followed by humid conditions, growers faced increased pressure from powdery mildew – a fungal disease that thrives in warm, damp environments. The robots provided an effective, sustainable solution, helping to protect fruit quality and boost yields.
Angela Porchez, General Manager at Angus Growers, explained: “Scotland’s climate is always a challenge for growers, and this year the hot, dry days followed by humidity meant mildew became a serious threat. By using robots to deliver UV treatment, we’ve been able to manage this without relying solely on chemicals. It not only protects crop quality, but it also helps reduce input costs and supports our long-term sustainability goals. Importantly, the technology has also improved plant health and yields, which is vital for grower returns in such a competitive marketplace.”
The partnership with Saga Robotics is a multi-year commitment and part of a wider push by Angus Soft Fruits and its growers to integrate innovative solutions across production. The cooperative is also exploring new technology for smaller tunnel systems and trialling drones for a suite of applications, including precision pollination to improve yields, logistics, and cleaning polytunnels to maximise vital light levels. This sits alongside long-standing work on carbon audits, renewable energy, and developing 100% recyclable packaging.
