We live in a growing world where it is becoming harder to supply healthy food options like fresh produce to people globally and maintain a competitive price point against processed alternatives. Robotics can help the sustainable future of fresh produce.

Steve Saunders built Robotics Plus with an approach to business that provides access to cutting-edge technology through contract service. This means their customers do not have to buy complete systems and get the most up-to-date versions on the market.

Through his 30-years of experience, Steve has seen how customer insights are critical to creating systems suitable for industry. For this reason, Robotics Plus' core strategic focus and function have been directed at research and development of a suit of technologies, such as an Autonomous, Kiwifruit Harvester and a Robotic Apple Packing Cell, to name a few.

Under Steve's leadership, Robotics Plus has been named a Top 50 Innovative & Influential Company and has become a world-leading robotics and automation company, unlocking new levels of productivity in some of the world's most labour-intensive food and fibre value chains.

Steve is also a Director and Investment Committee member for WNT Ventures where he provides market insights and investment perspectives into the next generation of deep-tech companies.

In this session, Steve will dive deep into the challenges the Agritech sector currently faces, from supply chain issues to recruitment and climate change, and how robotics can become a tool to alleviate the hurdles.