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Post-Brexit Britain could replace EU migrant workers with robots in the near future, in a goal to modernise into a self-sufficient global economy. This follows scaremongering that Brexit could cripple domestic farming and labour industries. The robot, nicknamed Thorvald, is being bankrolled by Brexit entrepreneurs to fill gaps in the labour market and reduce "dependency" on foreign seasonal workers.

GETTY Post-Brexit Britain could replace EU migrant workers with robots

Developed Pål Johan From told RT: "Brexit represents uncertainty to a lot of farmers and companies in the UK. "So, we have worked on developing robotic solutions that help farmers reduce dependency on foreign workers "This agricultural robot can operate in greenhouses, open fields, polytunnels. It can operate automnously in the fields." He joked that unlike seasonal workers, these robots are happy to work nights, never ask for a coffee break and best of all, has no need for a visa. The new generation of farm robots could resolve one of the biggest fears surrounding Brexit. Mr From said the labour shortage in Britain could be exacerbated by Brexit, something he called a "huge concern".

FILE The robot, nicknamed Thorvald, is being bankrolled by Brexit entrepreneurs

GETTY Will Britain need foreign workers from the EU after Brexit?

We have worked on developing robotic solutions that help farmers reduce dependency on foreign workers Developed Pål Johan From

Britain's departure from the EU could mean that farmers lose access to tens of thousands of eastern European workers that they have become reliant on. A large majority of those workers may be unable to recieve working visas following Brexit. In 2015 alone, British farms employed 22,517 EU-born workers - although, the British agriculture and horticulture development board believes the actual numbers are far higher. A local farmer in Lincoln, where the robots are being developed, said the machines "are the future". He said the technology could help Britain become "self-sufficient" on farms. Tom Duckett, a Lincoln computer scientist who is working on Thorvald, said the farmer of the future will be a "shepherd with a flock of robots".

GETTY Britain faces a looming crisis in the farming industry linked to immigration after Brexit

GETTY Robots already serve on farms as skilled weeders, as well as in supermarket warehouses