AI tractor tech to boost Australian nut farms

As part of its $760 million research and development portfolio, Hort Innovation has invested more than $220 million in productivity-boosting projects aimed at supporting Australian growers. These initiatives cover a wide range of areas, including automation, artificial intelligence, on-farm management, data collection, and business analysis.

One of the key innovations involves new technology that allows a single grower to operate multiple tractors simultaneously, significantly reducing labour costs. The system enables continuous, around-the-clock operation with minimal human intervention. A single operator can remotely manage and optimise a fleet of tractors from any device—mobile, desktop, or tablet.

This development has the potential to bring major changes to Australia’s almond, macadamia, and pistachio industries, and possibly beyond. In partnership with U.S. ag-tech company Bluewhite, the project will introduce cutting-edge technology that retrofits existing tractors, converting them into fully autonomous machines for the horticulture sector.

The multi-year project will use advanced AI to accelerate the adoption of precision autonomy in Australia’s nut industry and automate labour-intensive farming processes. The ultimate goal is to boost productivity and reduce reliance on manual labour, with potential for expansion to other horticultural crops in the future.

“Nut production and harvest are labour-intensive and rely heavily on seasonal workers, including backpackers and holidaymakers. However, with recent changes to labour programs and regulations, growers are facing increasing difficulties sourcing reliable labour,” CEO Fifield explained.

“The technology we are trialling has already been used successfully in major nut, citrus, and vineyard operations in the United States, where it has improved productivity, crop consistency, and reduced exposure to human error and fatigue. We hope to achieve similar outcomes here in Australia through extensive grower consultation and rigorous technology testing.”

The AI-driven platform also enables real-time data collection and analysis, allowing growers to make informed, data-driven decisions about their crops.

Graham Thompson, Director of Business Development at Bluewhite, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “We’re proud to bring Bluewhite’s autonomous platform to Australia. With proven experience on U.S. farms, we’re excited to collaborate with Hort Innovation and selected Australian growers in almonds, pistachios, and macadamias to demonstrate how autonomy can improve productivity, yield quality, and reduce operational strain. Our Pathfinder and Compass platforms are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing machinery and meet the demands of specialty crop production.”

In addition to productivity gains, the autonomous system is designed to improve worker safety by limiting human exposure to hazardous tasks, chemicals, and extreme heat, common risks in orchard operations.

As part of the initiative, Hort Innovation Frontiers and Bluewhite will engage with growers across key nut-producing regions to understand local challenges, equipment needs, and environmental conditions. This input will inform further development, system adaptation, and a tailored business model to support Australian nut growers, with a particular focus on almond, pistachio, and macadamia operations.

Tags: Australia, nuts, machinery, AI, drones