AI-based technology for forecasting growth in strawberry plants has been trialed on a Norfolk fruit farm. FruitCast captures digital imagery of millions of berries as they grow, then uses AI, driven by one of the largest databases in the world, to help growers accurately predict growth and yields up to six weeks in advance.
The Lincolnshire-based firm is planning a commercial launch for its product in spring. During the last two years, the system has been trialed and developed with two leading UK fruit growers, including Place UK, based at Tunstead, near North Walsham.
Place UK production manager Dan Yordanov said it was a valuable tool for planning labor management and market supply. "Planning labor needs and availability for our customers is wholly dependent on accurate estimation," he said.
"There's a lot of calculation in forecasting; it takes a lot of time, a large amount of input from experienced staff, and is currently subject to human error. "This is a real challenge for the industry. I'm excited to see FruitCast come to market. It is more advanced than others we've seen, but it's also based on a valuable combination of agricultural knowledge and technology.
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