Next Up in Remote Autonomous Greenhouse Production Is …Strawberries!
June 27, 2020 
The Autonomous Greenhouse Tomato Challenge just ended earlier this month, but the search for high-tech greenhouse solutions continues, with strawberries being the next crop in focus.
On June 15, the Smart Agriculture Competition kicked off in Yunnan, China. Participants in this high-tech showdown will have a little more than three months to remotely grow strawberries in a sophisticated greenhouse using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning-driven algorithms.
The winner of the Smart Agriculture Competition will be determined by how much economic benefit they can bring with their technology, as well as the reliability, scalability, and technical merit of the growing techniques. The contest is organized by Pinduoduo, one of China’s largest social e-commerce platforms. Together with the China Agricultural University, Pinduoduo initiated a competition to help improve and develop the country’s agriculture industry. Wageningen University & Research and the University of Florida are also involved in the contest that drew interest from almost 40 teams worldwide. Ridder Group will facilitate the teams with advanced horticulture technology and systems inside the contest greenhouses and will also be judging the results of the teams.
AI Algorithms
During the competition, the participants will create a set of digital AI solutions to remotely control and steer the growing process inside the greenhouse in Yunnan. Ridder provided high-end climate computers, Ridder Synopta control software, sensor systems, and sophisticated fertigation and water management technologies to automate the cultivation of the crop. A complete API interface provides the teams with full remote access to the systems so strong AI algorithms can be deployed. The overall goal is to achieve high quality and efficient greenhouse production without human intervention.
Focus on Feasibility
Over the next few months, teams with some of the world’s top agriculture researchers will do their utmost to realize the highest production figures and best-quality products in the most efficient and economic way. Ridder China’s General Manager Fulco Wijdooge will be part of the jury, which will judge the teams on the composition, proposition, feasibility, rentability of the methods used, and overall results.
Besides providing the appropriate technology and systems, the transfer of knowledge and expertise will also play a major role in the competition. Professional service engineers and horticulture trainers from Ridder group will also provide full technical support and training during the competition.
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