Research Progress on Full-Process Mechanisation Technology and Equipment for Processing Tomatoes

Processing tomatoes, as a major cash crop in China, still face challenges in mechanization and rely heavily on manual labor during production. For instance, the transplanting stage depends on semi-automated equipment, requiring continuous manual seedling placement and replanting, resulting in precision and efficiency that fail to meet the demands of large-scale cultivation. During harvesting, the limited adaptability of sorting mechanisms leads to persistently high rates of impurities in the fruit, hindering commercial processing efficiency. In contrast, while land preparation has achieved preliminary mechanization, deep loosening quality remains suboptimal. Plant protection faces technical bottlenecks in precise pesticide application tailored to processing tomato characteristics. This paper systematically reviews the global and domestic status of mechanized technologies across the entire processing tomato production chain, analyzing the development of land preparation, transplanting, plant protection, and harvesting machinery. Addressing the low mechanization level and uneven development across production stages in China's processing tomato sector, this paper proposes future development should focus on: Tackling key technological challenges and upgrading equipment, deepening the integration of agricultural machinery and agronomic practices, and advancing research on automation and intelligent production machinery. These recommendations aim to provide theoretical support and technical guidance for achieving full mechanization in China's processing tomato production.