Kaitiakitanga ō te kai me te Rongoā

MaaraTech: Wearable devices and Artificial Intelligence systems for orchardists and vintners to maximize fruit value

Funded by the MBIE Endeavour fund

This project aims to explore how Māori orchard, vineyard owners and orchard workers are anticipating the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) robotics technology in agriculture, and whether this aligns with Māori gardening practices and values more broadly, how technologies are adopted, and the effects of adoption within the industry. This social science project, led by Marama Muru-Lanning and Tia Dawes, is part of a larger five-year multi-disciplinary project that aims to develop and integrate new technologies into New Zealand orchard and vineyard operations. Māori growers and workers will help identify potential problems and benefits in the uptake and use of these technologies, and contribute to the design and delivery of the products to ensure that robotics technologies reflect the needs of grower communities.