Labor-saving robot

One of the world’s largest exhibitions of technology for the food industry has kicked off in Tokyo. Robots that can pack items on assembly lines are attracting attention as the sector struggles with a shortage of workers.

The fair started on Tuesday with about 960 companies displaying state-of-the-art technology. Tokyo firm RT is showcasing robots that work as a team to put food into containers. Officials say if one robot misses an item, its partner can take over the task. Vice chairperson of the board of the Japan Food Machinery Manufacturers' Association said there’s an urgent need to improve food-processing efficiency and that Japan's food-tech firms can help automate factories and reduce the need for new workers. The fair runs through Friday.