Technology Advocate Becomes Institution President
The Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) is pleased to announce the appointment of Chartered Agricultural Engineer Kit Franklin as its new President.
Kit brings a wealth of expertise across mechanical design, precision farming, robotic systems and agricultural automation. He combines industry insight with academic rigour through his role as a Senior Engagement Fellow at Harper Adams University. He has recently returned from North America, where he served as a visiting scholar at the Mississippi State University’s Agricultural Autonomy Institute and will continue to support them as an Adjunct Faculty Member, contributing to commercial projects and global thinking on automation in agriculture.
A well‑known figure in the sector, Kit was the project lead for the groundbreaking Hands Free Hectare and then FarmProjects, which attracted international recognition and multiple awards for demonstrating the future potential of fully autonomous field operations. His achievements have earned him titles such as Farmers Weekly’s “Rising Star” of UK agriculture and the IAgrE President’s Award for outstanding progress as a mid‑career engineer. He also co‑chairs IAgrE’s Robotics Special Interest Group, is a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, and has contributed to the Society’s influential Farm of the Future programme.
Beyond academia and research, Kit is a respected conference speaker and committed advocate for agricultural engineering. He co‑hosts the Brash Ag Podcast, helping to demystify agricultural technology and share insights from across the agritech landscape.
“As a proud Agricultural Engineer, it is a tremendous honour to serve as President of IAgrE. Agricultural engineering sits at the heart of some of the most important challenges and opportunities facing our society. Our members are improving productivity, climate resilience
And sustainability on our farms by driving forward environmental understanding, mechanisation and automation.
I have been fortunate to work across research, industry and education, and I am excited to help champion the engineers, technicians and innovators who are shaping the future of land‑based industries. I look forward to supporting IAgrE’s mission, representing and growing our diverse and talented community,” said Kit.
Charlie Nicklin CEO of IAgrE said “Kit brings an exceptional blend of practical experience, academic insight and forward‑looking vision to the role of IAgrE President. His work on automation, robotics and the Hands Free Farm Project has already influenced the direction of agricultural engineering in the UK and internationally. Kit’s passion for engaging the public, supporting innovation and inspiring the next generation makes him an outstanding ambassador for our profession. We are delighted to welcome him as President.”
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