Labour shortage and rising operational costs in stone fruit orchards

As a family-owned stone fruit farm with more than three generations of experience, we are increasingly facing structural challenges that threaten the long-term sustainability of our activity. One of the main problems is the growing shortage of skilled agricultural labour, particularly tractor operators needed to carry out daily orchard operations.

Tasks such as mowing, shredding, spraying and general orchard maintenance require many hours of tractor work throughout the season. However, finding reliable operators has become increasingly difficult, especially during peak agricultural periods.

At the same time, operational costs continue to increase due to higher fuel prices, machinery maintenance costs and labour expenses. These factors significantly reduce farm margins and make it harder to remain competitive in the market.

In addition, agriculture is under increasing pressure to reduce its environmental footprint. Farms are expected to lower emissions, optimize the use of inputs and adopt more sustainable farming practices, while still maintaining productivity and profitability.

For these reasons, we are actively looking for innovative technological solutions that can help automate repetitive agricultural tasks, reduce dependency on labour, lower operational costs and support the transition toward more sustainable and energy-efficient farming systems. Technologies such as autonomous and electric agricultural machinery could represent a key opportunity for farms like ours.