inBerry: AI-controlled production of berries using new sensor systems

The harvest of strawberries in particular has fallen sharply in Germany in recent years. Due to weather-related crop failures and a constantly shrinking cultivation area, it is becoming increasingly difficult to meet the demand for berries. One solution is indoor vertical farming: thanks to controlled cultivation in a closed system, production is not only independent of the weather, but also conserves resources and saves space. The "inBerry" project shows how modern technology and innovative cultivation methods can shape the future of agriculture in order to meet the challenges of climate change and security of supply.

The focus is on an AI-controlled production method for berries in indoor cultivation. Fraunhofer UMSICHT is working together with the technology provider vGreens Holding GmbH on the further development of a data-driven, year-round production method for the vertical cultivation of strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. The clients are Obst- und Gemüse-Absatzgenossenschaft Nordbaden eG and Obstgroßmarkt Mittelbaden eG.

In order to increase the efficiency of the cultivation method, new optical sensor technologies are being developed that enable the precise quality of the fruit to be determined. The data collected by the sensors is fed into AI-supported algorithms in order to continuously control cultivation. The combination of sensors and artificial intelligence should not only minimize the environmental impact of traditional field cultivation, but also maximize the yield - without any loss of quality. The long-term plan is to extend the cultivation spectrum to other berry crops and thus make the developed technologies usable for various specialty crops.

• vGreens Holding GmbH