From early 2010 to July 2012, Hydro Horticultural crops, COR BV and Quality Growers Holland were involved the chicory mechanization project. The aim of the project was to develop automation for growing chicory, making market-oriented and durable production possible in future cultivation. The project was supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs through the cooperation with the Rabobank Project Fund and Interpolis Agro. The project is now nearing its completion.
The project was divided into four sub-tests involving harvesting, packaging and two other fields. Proeftuin Zwaagdijk was responsible for process management. During the project, which involved collaboration with various technicians, extensive testing was done to achieve innovative automation for growing chicory. There was also an intimate partnership with Rolan Robotics, ProQopt, SDF, Bercomex, ZTI mechatronics, WageningenUR, Hall Of total technique, Viscon BV Jentjes and KPIs. The development focused on a new cultivation system, the use of image recognition using vision and x-ray, robotics and packaging systems.
The project was divided into four sub-tests involving harvesting, packaging and two other fields. Proeftuin Zwaagdijk was responsible for process management. During the project, which involved collaboration with various technicians, extensive testing was done to achieve innovative automation for growing chicory. There was also an intimate partnership with Rolan Robotics, ProQopt, SDF, Bercomex, ZTI mechatronics, WageningenUR, Hall Of total technique, Viscon BV Jentjes and KPIs. The development focused on a new cultivation system, the use of image recognition using vision and x-ray, robotics and packaging systems.
The image recognition using vision and x-ray proved more complex than initially expected. The diversity of chicory roots (branched, too short, too long, blind, with or without foliage) makes the link between cameras and software impractical just yet. Even after intensive collaboration with Wageningen University no decisive solutions have been found. Perhaps future technological advance may yield results.
In the tests involving harvests, people started looking for the right camera and image recognition software to recognize the intersection. The test also involved close collaboration with specialists and research institutes and a lot of knowledge was generated as a result. However, an ultimate solution wasn’t reached.
The package testing required cooperation with Viscon BV Jentjes and Rolan Robotics. All have designed an innovative packaging system for chicory and tested these on a small scale. With the systems they expect to achieve significant efficiency. Strict condition was that the systems were insensitive to interference, malfunction and maintenance.
A number of techniques developed in the project can be applied by chicory growers. The expected efficiency increase may not have been achieved, but as a direct result of the project, automation in horticulture has made a big step forward. The techniques developed in the project can be utilized in various crops and industries. Those involved expect to see spin-offs from the project in the agricultural sector very soon.