The advantages of data driven growing Quick summary Data-driven cultivation is cultivation with tools that collect data, revealing more insights into cultivation to ultimately achieve the most optimal crop yields Data-driven cultivation is possible in both a greenhouse and an indoor farm In data-driven cultivation in a Certhon indoor farm, photosynthesis and evaporation measurements are used to optimise crop growth Quick summary Data-driven cultivation is cultivation with tools that collect data, revealing more insights into cultivation to ultimately achieve the most optimal crop yields Data-driven cultivation is possible in both a greenhouse and an indoor farm In data-driven cultivation in a Certhon indoor farm, photosynthesis and evaporation measurements are used to optimise crop growth Share this article facebook twitter whatsapp linkedin It’s not new anymore: data-driven farming, but what exactly is it? Does data-driven farming mean no more humans? There are several definitions floating around. In this article, we share our take on data-driven growing and what benefits it brings. We also explain what you need for data-driven growing and whether it can only be deployed in an indoor farm, with the help of robotics. In short, data-driven growing is about making decisions based on data rather than gut feeling. And to bring out the right data to gain more insight into cultivation, tools are needed. The most optimal crop is a vigorous and resilient plant or flower that thrives in the perfect climate, with the right balance in light and water requirements to bear as many/beautiful fruits or flowers as possible. To measure is to know The tools retrieve data from the climate computer, sensors and cameras. The data consists of various elements, including temperature, humidity, CO2, amount of light in the greenhouse, but also information about the plant: the growth process, leaf quality, etc. The data is software-processed and summarised. Then new visualisations can be created, models trained and predictions made. The next thing that is essential to understand the data properly is knowledge of plant physiology. It is extremely important that the collected data is interpreted and analysed in the right way, to ultimately influence cultivation positively. Our data specialists know how to retrieve the most correct and complete data. Then our plant scientists get to work with that data. They know exactly what the retrieved data means. Using our systems, the data can be visualised. Analyses then provide the necessary insights, after which, if necessary, the crop can be adjusted. This requires close cooperation between the data and crop specialists. The benefits In fact, data-driven cultivation has been done for much longer. It is indispensable for better insights into your cultivation to then get that optimal crop. That is also directly the biggest advantage of data-driven growing: achieving the most optimal crop yield for grower or grower. This differs per crop. Whereas a tomato grower wants to harvest as many tasty kilos as possible, a flower grower wants a strong flower that stays on the consumer’s table for as long as possible. If the analyses show that the realised yield lags behind the optimal expectation, the grower can make adjustments. And that is data-driven growing. An indoor farm, also called a climate cell, or a greenhouse Data-driven growing is certainly not only suitable for an indoor farm. In a greenhouse, a grower can also do excellent data-driven growing. Indeed, it is currently done in most greenhouses. It goes without saying that outside influences have an impact on the crop and therefore also on the data. But even in a greenhouse, adjustments can be made; vents can be opened or closed, additional heating is an option and adding fertilisers to the watering is also adjustment. This is just as possible in a greenhouse as it is in an indoor farm. What is important to know is that the data driven in an indoor farm can be more accurate and broader, simply because there are no outside influences. Photosynthesis and evaporation can be measured, there can be extremely precise control, and real relationships are quickly established. This enables us to quickly find out what the optimal situation is. Then, of course, those insights can be applied again in a greenhouse. In this way, an indoor farm, also called a climate cell, is a very good learning experience. Is data-driven growing the same as autonomous growing? No. By growing based on data, you have more information about your crop. You turn that information into knowledge and insights after which you can adjust the cultivation where necessary. Think of adding more nutrients to the water. Or perhaps an adjustment in light requirements? Then the screening can be adjusted slightly. A grower reads this from the analysed data, after which he or she takes action to adjust the water requirement. This is data-driven cultivation. Eventually, more and more actions will be automated. Autonomous cultivation is cultivation without any human intervention. Here, everything is automated and computers and robotics take care of all facets of cultivation, from growing to harvesting and even packaging. We are not there yet, although we are taking a step in this direction with data-driven growing. The grower continues to make the decisions based on the data, especially in situations that are infrequent. Whether autonomous growing will happen at all in the future, time will tell. In any case, if we get to that point, Certhon will be at the forefront of development. At our Innovation Centre we also grow by data analysis Read more about the CIC