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Finale third Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge, Wageningen UR, Netherlands

On July 1st 2022, the third edition of the Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge came to an end with the Grand Finale. The conclusion of the third edition of the Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge began with a tour of various WUR projects at the location on the Violierenweg in Bleiswijk, Netherlands.
On July 1st 2022, the third edition of the Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge came to an end with the Grand Finale. The conclusion of the third edition of the Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge began with a tour of various WUR projects at the location on the Violierenweg in Bleiswijk, Netherlands.
Rick de Jong of the WUR explained what they do in the Flavour Lab. In short: the development of a handheld sensor tool to non-destructively measure the quality of tomatoes. Lotte and Caterina from Source.ag listen attentively.
Rick de Jong of the WUR explained what they do in the Flavour Lab. In short: the development of a handheld sensor tool to non-destructively measure the quality of tomatoes. Lotte and Caterina from Source.ag listen attentively.
Jos Ruizendaal of the WUR gave a presentation on automation in gerbera cultivation for both monitoring and harvesting. At this moment, the WUR is working with a machine builder to work with the robot towards commercialisation.
Jos Ruizendaal of the WUR gave a presentation on automation in gerbera cultivation for both monitoring and harvesting. At this moment, the WUR is working with a machine builder to work with the robot towards commercialisation.
Monique Bijlaard showed the gerbera robot that the WUR is working on.
Monique Bijlaard showed the gerbera robot that the WUR is working on.
Silke Hemming of the WUR (far left) also showed a group around, here to a presentation by her colleague Frank Kempkes (2nd from left).
Silke Hemming of the WUR (far left) also showed a group around, here to a presentation by her colleague Frank Kempkes (2nd from left).
A chat at the gerbera harvesting robot between Martijn Duijvesteijn (Beyond Chrysant) and Jos Ruizendaal (WUR)
A chat at the gerbera harvesting robot between Martijn Duijvesteijn (Beyond Chrysant) and Jos Ruizendaal (WUR)
Frank Kempkes told about the trials with various crops in the Greenhouse2030.
Frank Kempkes told about the trials with various crops in the Greenhouse2030.
During the guided tour, the groups could also take a look at the indoor farm, which opened last year. Experiments with multilayer cultivation as well as with high-wire cultivation in a climate cell are carried out there.
During the guided tour, the groups could also take a look at the indoor farm, which opened last year. Experiments with multilayer cultivation as well as with high-wire cultivation in a climate cell are carried out there.
Lettuce! That is what it was all about during the third edition of the Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge.
Lettuce! That is what it was all about during the third edition of the Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge.
During the guided tour, Anna Petropoulou of the WUR took the groups through the technical set-up of the autonomous cultivation competition.
During the guided tour, Anna Petropoulou of the WUR took the groups through the technical set-up of the autonomous cultivation competition.
The reference cultivation for the autonomous cultivation competition was done in this greenhouse.
The reference cultivation for the autonomous cultivation competition was done in this greenhouse.
The greenhouse is equipped with a fog system, a double screen ...
The greenhouse is equipped with a fog system, a double screen ...
... movable gutters, a climate and PAR sensor, a camera to make crop images and ... 
... movable gutters, a climate and PAR sensor, a camera to make crop images and ... 
... LED lighting.
... LED lighting.
Anna explained the irrigation and fertilisation part was taken out of the teams' hands by the organisation, in consultation with the breeding company that supplied the lettuce.
Anna explained the irrigation and fertilisation part was taken out of the teams' hands by the organisation, in consultation with the breeding company that supplied the lettuce.
Time for a coffee break, here with Jan Hanemaaijer (Blue Radix) and Leo Lansbergen (Fluence).
Time for a coffee break, here with Jan Hanemaaijer (Blue Radix) and Leo Lansbergen (Fluence).
Rudolf de Vetten (Blue Radix) and Cock Dijkshoorn (Seasun)
Rudolf de Vetten (Blue Radix) and Cock Dijkshoorn (Seasun)
Michel van Ruijven (MvR) and Joost Veenman (Ridder)
Michel van Ruijven (MvR) and Joost Veenman (Ridder)
Pieter de Visser and Catarina Carpineti of the WUR
Pieter de Visser and Catarina Carpineti of the WUR
Dionysis Tarnavas and Sander Baraké of Ridder
Dionysis Tarnavas and Sander Baraké of Ridder
Rob Wouters (BASF Vegetable Seeds) and Ilse Leenknegt (Proefstation voor de Groenteteelt Sint-Katelijne-Waver)
Rob Wouters (BASF Vegetable Seeds) and Ilse Leenknegt (Proefstation voor de Groenteteelt Sint-Katelijne-Waver)
Mustafa Agbari (Habbi/4tu), Kathy Steppe (University of Ghent) and Xu Zhang (Imec)
Mustafa Agbari (Habbi/4tu), Kathy Steppe (University of Ghent) and Xu Zhang (Imec)
Prathamesh Patalay (Delft University), Ismael Cabral (Source.ag) and Ruben Mak (Source.ag)
Prathamesh Patalay (Delft University), Ismael Cabral (Source.ag) and Ruben Mak (Source.ag)
Tim van Daalen (WUR), Yang Huang (Kubo) and Alessandro Barucci (Kubo)
Tim van Daalen (WUR), Yang Huang (Kubo) and Alessandro Barucci (Kubo)
Theo Tekstra (Fluence) and Denis Dullemans (Dalsem)
Theo Tekstra (Fluence) and Denis Dullemans (Dalsem)
Fokke Kracht (Van der Valk Horti Systems) and Teddy Prayoga (LetsGrow.com)
Fokke Kracht (Van der Valk Horti Systems) and Teddy Prayoga (LetsGrow.com)
Guodong Ni (Wayld Capital) and Jose Fernandes Artes (Future Farms)
Guodong Ni (Wayld Capital) and Jose Fernandes Artes (Future Farms)
There was room for up to a hundred at the conclusion of the third Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge.
There was room for up to a hundred at the conclusion of the third Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge.
Team CVA came in fourth. From the team, startup Croft was born.
Team CVA came in fourth. From the team, startup Croft was born.
Team VeggieMight came in third. Nikita Rogovoy (QuantumSoft) and Vincent van der Wijngaard (Horticompass) collected the prize.
Team VeggieMight came in third. Nikita Rogovoy (QuantumSoft) and Vincent van der Wijngaard (Horticompass) collected the prize.
Fokke Kracht collected the first prize on behalf of the winning team Koala. He himself was not on the team, but he knows the people of Koidra well.
Fokke Kracht collected the first prize on behalf of the winning team Koala. He himself was not on the team, but he knows the people of Koidra well.
The day ended with a barbeque.
The day ended with a barbeque.