"Sensors will change the job of the grower"

Concepts such as Internet of Things and Big Data are often heard nowadays. An infinite amount of information is said to be up for grabs, and with it an endless number of solutions for an endless amount of problems. This also goes for cultivation. As long as there is sufficient information available in the greenhouse about climate and crop, this can lead to an increase in production, to quality improvements and ever progressive sustainability.

Of course there are plenty of problems: what are you actually measuring, exactly where and when? And does it really help you? What criteria do you require from the data, on what findings are you going to draw conclusions and 'react'? These are questions for the grower (or, for example for LetsGrow, with whom a close cooperation has been established), but then the system itself provides the input. Sense2Grow is going to prove itself in practice, according to the people behind Technolution and the first growers who are experimenting with it. First measuring, then putting things together and then to consult with each other.

The sensors are equipped with so-called Lora technology. Lora (Long range low power) is a kind of radio signal and has several advantages over other types of signals: it carries far and indeed consumes little energy, but lacks many drawbacks of existing signals (such as WiFi or 4G). Now that the sensors, in terms of design and functionality are economical, accurate, reliable and above all affordable enough to install in numbers in the greenhouse, extensive use in practice is interesting. 

One of the growers, Porta Nova, has implemented the system in their greenhouse. At the meeting, Dukker graciously shared some of his initial findings with the public. Sensors were hung at 25 meter intervals, the collected information gave several exciting insights. Often differences appear to be bigger than expected and sometimes there seems to be no logic. Without going into detail, Leon Dukker estimates that a total yield increase of 5% should be achievable, if the climate is optimized and is evenly distributed throughout the greenhouse.