Countryfile heads to Herefordshire this Sunday, trading its usual bucolic vistas for a look at the tech-driven future of farming. Airing at 5:30 PM GMT on BBC One, Farm Innovations examines how cutting-edge science is reshaping agriculture—from robotic milking systems to carbon-negative construction materials.
Presenter Margherita Taylor gets a firsthand look at how robots are changing the game for dairy farmers, while Matt Baker checks out a fully autonomous robot designed for planting and weeding—a potential game-changer for large-scale operations.
The episode also explores some more offbeat experiments, including a Japanese method for fermenting manure (yes, really) and a strawberry grower using science to amp up the sweetness of their berries. On the more practical side, the show catches up with a former finance worker who’s invented a carbon-negative material that reuses phosphates—a promising development for sustainable building. Adam Henson rounds out the hour with a visit to a potato and beet farm to see how technology can help conserve water and minimize inputs.
Countryfile looks to address the big question: can agricultural technology truly live up to its potential? Find out this Sunday at 5:30 PM GMT on BBC One.