The adoption of robotic technology by the United Kingdom's (UK) agricultural industry offers a potential solution to the persistent labour shortages within the sector. This study investigates robot acceptance in UK agriculture, examining the individual, organisational, and contextual factors impacting levels of acceptance. A comprehensive mixed-methods survey, adapted from previous studies on robot acceptance at work (RAW), was administered to measure RAW across a diverse sample of UK agricultural workers. Key findings reveal significant variation in RAW between farming sectors and job roles, as well as between different contextual scenarios. In particular, the sample expressed a preference for robots designed to assist in tasks, while being particularly averse to robots designed to make operational decisions. Building familiarity emerged as a crucial facilitator of acceptance, whereas significant barriers included cost and fears of job displacement. In contrast to trends in other industries, older individuals showed higher acceptance levels, possibly viewing robots as valuable aids for increasingly demanding physical tasks. In summary, this study provides key insights into robot acceptance in UK agriculture, the drivers and barriers to adoption, and has implications for theory, academia, and industry. Additionally, it offers guidance for policy interventions aimed at promoting technological integration and supporting workforce adaptation. The study also contributes to open science by sharing the data and materials that support its findings. • Novel mixed-methods survey of robot acceptance in the UK agricultural workforce. • Robot acceptance varies significantly by farming sector and job role. • Workers prefer robots assisting with tasks but reject robots making operational decisions. • Older individuals showed higher robot acceptance, reversing trends in other sectors. • Building familiarity is key to driving the adoption of agricultural robots.
Grant et al. (2026) studied this question.