A Robot Is Helping Russia Produce Cheese
A high‑tech autonomous robot is transforming cheese production in Russia, handling up to 115 wheels of cheese per hour and strengthening efficiency across one of the country’s largest agricultural holdings.
Automation Reaches the Cheese Room
The Voronezh‑based agroholding EkoNiva‑APK has reported a major boost in production efficiency thanks to the integration of artificial intelligence and robotics.
The RF4 robot now assists in cheese processing at company facilities. It independently moves along racks stacked with cheese wheels, lifting each one in turn, assessing its condition, and performing all required operations. These include applying a saline solution, flipping the cheese, and coating it with Brevibacterium cultures used to develop flavor and rind. The robot can process up to 115 wheels per hour and supports more than ten cheese types.
Digital Tools for Fields and Barns
AI‑driven modernization in EkoNiva extends beyond cheese production.
The EkoCrop crop management platform compiles data for every field, including completed work, involved specialists, and equipment usage. It also generates detailed, filterable reports and allows agronomists to draft agricultural tasks.
Another domestic solution, the Eko.Feed animal‑nutrition system, calculates feed portions based on recipe parameters, ensures accurate and timely feed distribution, and tracks real‑time changes in herd nutrition.
AI as the Future of Russian Agriculture
EkoNiva plans to further expand the use of artificial intelligence to improve forecasting accuracy, increase overall production efficiency, and reduce workloads for employees. These systems signal a broader shift in Russian agriculture toward automation, data‑driven management, and advanced robotics.
