;
1/5
Sustainable Growing

From space with love: the launch of imaging technology into the greenhouse

Rasit Abay
May 1, 2020

Did you know that technologies used in space science can also be used in high tech greenhouses? That’s right. Our partner Rasit Abay, space situational awareness researcher and founder of Futurifai, is currently exploring how imaging technology can be used for crop registration and yield prediction. With this technology, a grower only needs to take a few photos of his greenhouse, and a machine will be able to help the grower count and measure the health of his crops. This is not a science fiction scenario in the far future; in fact according to Rasit Abay, this exciting technology could already be used by the end of this year.

1. What is imaging technology? Why is it relevant?

“With this technology, a machine can analyze a set of photos and give the grower advice, based on the information those photos provide. This helps the grower take critical decisions about, for example, his irrigation management, lighting, and harvesting. The interesting thing about this technology, is that the machine learns from previous experiences through advanced deep learning algorithms. Every time the machine analyzes a set of photos, the machine gets to know the greenhouse better, and develops customized advice for that specific greenhouse. Different machines in various greenhouses can also interact with each other and learn from each other. In that way, prediction models can be developed to help growers cultivate even more efficiently.”

2. You worked on imaging technology for the space sector first. What made you change to the horticulture sector?

“I believed it was time to introduce technologies from AI space research to the practical challenges of our daily lives. Many people find AI and new technologies quite intimidating and fear it will take away their jobs. I wanted to take away that fear. Technologies are already part of our daily lives and can actually help us with things we do not like to do (for example crop counting). We have robots on assembly lines and autonomous cars, and they all depend on AI and imaging technology to a certain degree. So why not use these technologies to bring fresh and sustainable food to the table? That’s why I decided to transfer my knowledge from space to the horticulture industry and started working with companies like Grodan.”

20200423 GR PHO 5182

Grodan, e-Gro
Download the whitepaper about the start of data-driven growing

Download the whitepaper about the start of data driven growing and read more what data-driven growing is and how it can help you.

Download the whitepaper
PDF
2.2 MB
Grodan
Download the whitepaper about the impact of data-driven growing

Download the whitepaper about the impact of data driven growing and read more what data-driven growing is and how it can help you.

Download the whitepaper
PDF
2.6 MB

3. What are the main challenges of using imaging technology?

“Machine learning is sensitive to data, so the quality and quantity of data is critical. There are many people who call themselves “AI experts”, but they do not have enough AI expertise and / or domain knowledge to transform the raw data to curated data before feeding to the machine. So partner only with experts who have a rich experience with this AI technology and domain expertise. Other than that, I don’t see many risks. I actually think AI and imaging technology will become part of our daily work and will help us make better decisions. By 2023, greenhouses could already be fully autonomous.”

4. If a grower wants to start using imaging technology, what is the first step to take?

“Key is that you can’t just install a machine, and AI will do the work for you. For these machines to work properly, you need “domain knowledge” (for example, define what healthy tomatoes look like). These technologies are expensive, and require serious hardware power. Companies like Grodan and Futurifai have the expertise to insert this domain and hardware knowledge into the software. So my advice is: work together with an expert to install this kind of technology in your greenhouse. Did you know that Grodan is also participating in developing this innovative technology further? It will be part of the e-Gro platform, so keep watching that space!

For more information about Futurifai, please visit: https://futurifai.com/

This story is part of the Gro-Hacks series, in which we ask partners and friends of Grodan about the lessons we can learn from their innovative entrepreneurial stories.

Download our whitepapers

20200410 GR ILL 5062

Download the whitepaper about the start of data-driven growing

Download the whitepaper about the start of data driven growing and read more what data-driven growing is and how it can help you.

Download

20200410 GR ILL 5061

Download the whitepaper about the impact of data-driven growing

Download the whitepaper about the impact of data driven growing and read more what data-driven growing is and how it can help you.

Download

Our latest blogs

20181022 RW-GR PHO 7
Sustainable Growing

Rooted in Science: Grodan's research into pepper wilting

Since 2022, a limited number of high-tech greenhouse pepper growers worldwide have faced a rapid and severe form of wilting that posed a threat to crop production. This has left growers searching for answers. In response, Grodan funded rigorous, independent research, collaborating with a wide range of industry partners to analyse all potential contributing factors. Findings to date currently point to a specific isolate of the pathogenic fungus Fusarium as the cause. Today in the Netherlands and Belgium the isolate it is referred to as Fusarium oxysporum radicis capsici (FORC). In Canada it is referred to as Fusarium Oxysporum Species Complex (FOSC). It is highly pathogenic and specific to peppers. Initial scientific reports also show that wilting caused by the Fusarium isolate can occur in both stone wool and organic substrates.

20241209 RW-GR PHO 1566
By Lise Maibom
Water Management
Sustainable Growing

Trials underline the importance of an optimised irrigation strategy for lettuce

In comparison to other high-tech crops grown commercially, much less research has been done into cultivating lettuce on stone wool. At Grodan, we are keen to help increase the availability of science-based information by conducting lettuce trials with respected partners.

20250618-RW-GREA PHO 1670
Sustainable Growing

Start from Zero – Redefining Greenhouse Cultivation with Bioprotection

“Change starts from zero.” This phrase is increasingly echoed among European growers who want to eliminate or significantly reduce chemical plant protection products in greenhouse production. The “zero pesticide” trend has long dominated in France and, over the past three seasons, has been rapidly gaining momentum in the Netherlands—a country setting the pace for protected horticulture worldwide.

20240910 RW-GR PHO 1535
Sustainable Growing

Investing in Reliability: How Local Production Supports Canadian Growers

In an industry that deals with live plants, where timing can make or break a crop, access to reliable, high quality growing media is critical. That’s why Grodan made the decision in 2012 to invest in local production, opening a stone wool manufacturing facility in Milton, Ontario.

1/8

We are a global leader in the supply of innovative stone wool substrate solutions for the professional horticultural based on Precision Growing principles.

Select your language