Introduction to Robotic Grafting: Transforming the Future of Vegetable Production

Grafting is a horticultural technique that involves joining the tissues of two plants so that they grow as one. This method has been widely used in vegetable production to improve disease resistance, enhance growth, and increase yield. However, traditional grafting methods are labor-intensive and require skilled labor, which can be a limiting factor for large-scale production.

Robotic grafting is an innovative approach that uses automation and robotics to streamline the grafting process. By using robotic systems, growers can achieve higher precision and consistency in grafting, reducing the reliance on manual labor. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way grafting is performed, making it more efficient and accessible for large-scale vegetable production. This technique has already revolutionized the commercial nursery and greenhouse industries, particularly in countries like Japan, Korea, China, and the Netherlands [7].

Advantages of Robotic Grafting

Robotic grafting offers several advantages over traditional manual methods:

Increased Efficiency: Robots can perform grafting tasks much faster than humans, allowing for higher throughput and reduced labor costs. Modern systems can graft over 1,000 plants per hour compared to 50-100 plants per hour by skilled workers[1].
Precision and Consistency: Robotic systems can make precise cuts and alignments, leading to higher success rates (often exceeding 95%) and uniformity in grafted plants[1].
Scalability: Robotic grafting can be easily scaled up to meet the demands of large-scale production, making it suitable for commercial operations of any size.
Reduced Labor Dependency: By automating the grafting process, growers can reduce their dependence on skilled labor, which can be scarce and expensive, especially during peak production periods.
Improved Plant Health: The precision of robotic grafting can lead to better healing and reduced stress on the plants, resulting in healthier grafted plants with stronger unions.

How Robotic Grafting Evolved

The early robotic grafting systems were relatively simple, focusing on automating specific tasks such as cutting and aligning plant parts. However, today's systems are far more advanced, using smart sensors, computer vision, and machine learning algorithms to automatically adjust to different plant types and growing conditions. These systems can now handle a variety of vegetables, including tomatoes, eggplant (brinjal), chilli, peppers, cucumbers, melons, and others, making them versatile tools for commercial growers.

Historical Development

The first commercial robotic grafting machine was developed in 1993 in Japan[2], marking a significant milestone in agricultural automation. Since then, numerous models have been designed with continuous improvements in speed, reliability, and success rates.

Key Evolution Milestones:

Levels of Automation: Semi-automatic machines require operators to feed the seedlings, but they autonomously handle cutting and joining. Fully automatic machines perform the entire process—from picking up seedlings to completing the graft—without human intervention.
Speed Improvements: Early models could graft around 200-300 plants per hour, while modern machines can handle over 1,000 plants per hour, with the latest systems reaching up to 2,000+ grafts per hour[3].
Success Rates: Today's robotic grafting systems achieve success rates of 90-98%, representing a major improvement over earlier techniques and approaching or exceeding manual grafting success rates[1].

Notable Robotic Grafting Systems

MGM600

Country: Japan
Year: 1992
Capacity: 600 grafts/hour

Graft1200

Country: Netherlands
Year: 2010
Capacity: 1,000+ grafts/hour

AFGR-800CS

Country: South Korea
Year: 2013
Capacity: 800 grafts/hour

HAU-22

Country: China
Year: 2022
Capacity: 2,000+ grafts/hour

Grafito Innovations

Country: India
Year: 2023
Capacity: 300-600 grafts/hour

Robotic Grafting in India: An Emerging Opportunity

As India continues to grow as a major vegetable producer, robotic grafting presents exciting possibilities for our nurseries and greenhouse growers, especially in states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu where protected cultivation is rapidly expanding.

The technology is particularly relevant for Indian growers facing familiar challenges: finding skilled grafting labor during peak seasons, managing rising labor costs (₹500-800 per day for skilled workers), and meeting the quality standards demanded by export markets for crops like tomatoes, capsicum, and cucumber.

While the initial investment of ₹42 lakhs to ₹1.68 crores may seem substantial, large commercial nurseries can potentially recover these costs within 2-3 years. Additionally, government schemes like the National Horticulture Mission (NHM) and MIDH provide subsidies up to 50% for hi-tech equipment[4], making this technology more accessible.

Of course, adoption in India comes with its own considerations—from adapting to diverse local vegetable varieties to ensuring reliable power supply and building service networks. But as our greenhouse sector modernizes and export demands grow, robotic grafting could become an increasingly practical solution for Indian growers looking to scale up production while maintaining quality.

Challenges and Future Directions

While robotic grafting has made significant strides, several challenges remain that must be addressed for wider adoption:

Initial Investment: The cost of robotic grafting systems can be substantial, ranging from ₹42 lakhs to over ₹1.68 crores[5], which may be a barrier for small-scale growers and nurseries in developing regions.
Technical Expertise: Operating and maintaining robotic systems requires technical knowledge and specialized training, which may necessitate additional investment in staff education and ongoing support.
Adaptability: While current systems can handle a variety of vegetables, further advancements are needed to accommodate a wider range of plant types, different stem diameters, and various grafting techniques (splice, cleft, tongue, etc.).
Integration with Existing Systems: Integrating robotic grafting systems with existing nursery and greenhouse operations can be complex and may require significant adjustments to workflow, infrastructure, and climate control systems.
Seedling Uniformity: Robotic systems perform best with uniform seedlings, which requires careful seed selection and standardized growing conditions before grafting.

How Grafito Innovations is Addressing These Challenges

Grafito Innovations, an Indian agri-tech company, has developed an innovative approach to make robotic grafting technology more accessible and affordable for Indian growers. Here's how they're tackling the key challenges:

Cost-Effective Solutions

Affordable Pricing: The Grafito G1 system is indigenously designed and manufactured in India, significantly reducing costs compared to imported machines. While international systems cost ₹42 lakhs to ₹1.68 crores, Grafito's solution is priced to be more accessible to Indian nurseries and commercial growers.
Elimination of Import Duties: By producing the entire system locally in India, Grafito eliminates hefty import duties and customs charges (typically 18-28% on imported agricultural machinery), making the technology substantially more affordable.
Lower Operational Costs: The system is designed to work efficiently with Indian power conditions and uses locally available spare parts, reducing long-term maintenance and operational expenses.

Indian Market Adaptation

Designed for Indian Conditions: The Grafito G1 is specifically engineered to handle popular Indian vegetable varieties including tomato, brinjal (eggplant), chilli, and other solanaceous crops commonly grown in Indian nurseries.
Local Support Network: With manufacturing and R&D based in India, Grafito provides rapid technical support, training in regional languages, and readily available spare parts—addressing the challenge of maintaining imported equipment.
Flexible Capacity: The 300-600 grafts/hour capacity is optimally suited for small to medium-scale Indian nurseries, allowing them to enter automation without the overwhelming capacity (and cost) of high-speed international systems.

Making Technology Accessible

Training and Support: Grafito provides comprehensive training to nursery staff, ensuring that operators can quickly learn to use and maintain the system without extensive technical backgrounds.
Government Subsidy Compatibility: The system qualifies for subsidies under schemes like the National Horticulture Mission (NHM) and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), which offer up to 50% financial assistance for hi-tech equipment.
Scalable Growth Path: Nurseries can start with one unit and expand as their business grows, making it easier to justify the initial investment and scale operations progressively.

By focusing on affordability, local manufacturing, and adaptation to Indian growing conditions, Grafito Innovations is democratizing robotic grafting technology and making it a practical reality for Indian vegetable producers.

The Future Outlook

Despite these challenges, the future of robotic grafting looks promising. Ongoing research and development are focused on:

Improving the technology with AI-driven vision systems for better plant recognition
Making systems more affordable through modular designs and shared equipment models
Expanding capabilities to handle more crop varieties and grafting methods
Developing mobile and compact systems suitable for smaller operations
Integrating with smart greenhouse systems for complete automation

As robotic grafting systems become more advanced and accessible, they have the potential to transform vegetable production globally, making it more efficient, sustainable, and profitable for growers of all scales.

References

[1] Improvement of grafting efficiency in automatic grafting machine for cucurbits

[2] New grafting methods for fruit-bearing vegetables in Japan

[3] Advances in automatic grafting robot for vegetables

[4] Protected cultivation and good agricultural practices - National Horticulture Board, India

[5] Cost benefit analysis of using grafted transplants for root-knot nematode management

[6] Current status of vegetable grafting: Diffusion, grafting techniques, automation

[7] Vegetable grafting: History, use, and current technology status in North America

Published on: October 17, 2025

By Vishnupriya S