EU funds development of AI-powered platform for sustainable potato farming
The driver here is the development of new, regenerative management systems that will, amongst other things, reduce the use of fungicide chemistries to control blight.
A case in point is the allocation of £700,000 support funding through the European Commission's European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Food Innovation Agency to the UK-based agritech company Cropin.
The work will entail using real-time field data, computer models, and predictive analytics to secure objective data points that can be used to verify the effects of regenerative methods without compromising potato crop yield or quality, including the dry matter content sought by processors.
Known as 'FIRST Potato - Field Intelligence for Regenerative Agriculture and Sustainability in Potato Farming', Cropin's AI-powered initiative is designed to encourage the adoption of regenerative practices across Europe.
It brings together a consortium of food processors, research institutions, and sustainability leaders to accelerate the transition from conventional to regenerative practice.
Krishna Kumar, CEO and founder of Cropin said: "As regenerative agriculture gains momentum, the absence of verifiable, measurable outcomes poses a real challenge to meaningful, scalable impact.
"Without robust digital systems, farmers struggle to consistently uphold regenerative principles.
'Through AI, data intelligence, and real-time decision-support, we are bridging this critical gap, bringing precision, accountability, and scale to regenerative agriculture.'
The AI-powered technology will pull together data from sensors, satellite imagery, weather stations, and internet devices to deliver plot-specific daily advisories to growers, tailored to soil profile and microclimatic conditions.
The technology is intended to optimise irrigation, input usage and residue management to help farmers manage optimal yield, reduced inputs, and the consistency in quality demanded by processors of crisps and chips.
Looking to the future, regenerative crop management practices should be able to meet these demands. However, evidence shows yields can fall in the early years of transition.
This is where the AI technology will assist farmers in optimising production.
According to Cropin, initially, the scientific validation of the AI platform will be carried out on farms in Denmark, where Cropin has partnered with Aarhus University, a globally recognised leader in sustainable agriculture research.
However, the first commercial pilots will involve a UK potato processor, with a second to follow in Germany.
"This deployment will deliver collective benefits," Kumar explained.
"Growers enhance their profitability, brands meet their sustainability targets, and regenerative practices benefit the planet: it's a win-win for the entire agri-food ecosystem."
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