Practical AI Use in the Greenhouse: Where it Works and Where it Needs to Be Improved
August 11, 2025 Artificial intelligence (AI) is in the early stages of revolutionizing horticulture and agriculture, but where does it truly add value today — and where does the hype fall short? A panel discussion at Cultivate’25 explored AI’s practical applications, from early plant stress detection and optimized workflow management to smarter labor allocation.
The panel included Jonathan Buswell, Director of Automation at Monrovia; Della Fetzer, founder of Rebel Cultures; Aren Phillips, Greenhouse Systems Manager at Walters Gardens; and Ian Seiferling, CEO and co-founder of Adaviv. If this sounds familiar, it’s because the same group met last year at Cultivate for a similar discussion. This year, with AI technology and implementation evolving rapidly, the time was right to revisit the topic.
Here are a few insights from the discussion.
The Biggest Shifts You’ve Seen in the Use of AI
- Sieferling: “I thought the use of AI would plateau, but it definitely has not.”
- Buswell: “Aerial machine learning.”
- Phillips: “The frequency of updates and new technology introductions has exceeded my expectations.”
The Problems You’ve Seen AI Addressing
- Buswell: “It’s helped us capture data more efficiently from the field and develop action plans.”
The Pain Points of Using AI
- Phillips: “We need to build an image library to help with imaging.”
- Sieferling: “There are limitations on what you can build, and you need to understand the restraints of AI. It’s a matter of hype vs. practicality; you need to trust in the adoption, even if it means doing things in a different way.”
- Buswell: “This is a diversified industry, and we need to look at how we can build these systems out so they can be adapted by anyone.”
Busting AI Myths
- Buswell: “A lot of people think plants are unpredictable. But AI can understand plants and how they grow, if you give it the right data.
- Phillips: “AI will not replace jobs, but it will your employees do more with what they have.”
- Fetzer: “Right now there is one thing AI can’t do: it can’t have the personal experiences and emotions that humans have.”
Where AI Can Go Wrong
- Phillips: “Don’t have blind faith in the data you get from AI. Be sure to review what it gives you.”
How to Get Started With AI
- Buswell: “Don’t just start out on your own. Find a network of users and vet it to make sure you’re getting the best information.”
Subscribe to eNewsletter
