Amsterdam-based Source.ag, an agtech startup, has unveiled Source Irrigation Control, an AI-driven solution for fruit and vegetable growers.
This autonomous irrigation system adapts irrigation strategies based on real-time weather conditions and plant data.
The company’s latest product, Source Irrigation Control, facilitates scalable operations and enhances irrigation management for growers. This addition reduces manual intervention and accelerates adaptation to new seed varieties or locations.
Growers simply set irrigation targets, and the system utilises AI models incorporating weather forecasts and plant data to predict water and nutrient uptake. This innovation optimises resource efficiency, saving time for growers who can tailor irrigation targets to align with their cultivation strategies using Source.ag’s data science capabilities.
Advantages of Source Irrigation Control
Source Irrigation Control provides growers with a data-driven irrigation solution, enhancing crop quality, resource management, and business growth.
The system predicts plant water and nutrient uptake, implementing a proactive irrigation plan for optimal root growth. AI assesses and cleans sensor data, updating growers’ unique irrigation models regularly, freeing up time for value-added tasks.
With reduced manual intervention, growers can efficiently manage larger areas, enabling rapid operational scaling. The system’s adaptability simplifies handling new circumstances, climates, or seed varieties cost-effectively.
Rien Kamman, co-founder of Source.ag says, “We are thrilled to launch Source Irrigation Control for growers around the world. Currently, managing irrigation effectively can be a huge challenge for fruit and vegetable producers, for whom it’s impossible to keep up with the impact of changes in weather conditions 24/7.”
“Source Irrigation Control monitors local weather changes every fifteen minutes and automatically adjusts irrigation to accommodate them.”
“After the successful launch of our first product, Source Track, and the complementary Source Plant App, this latest launch means growers can now harness the competitive advantages of AI for data interpretation and irrigation,” adds Kamman.
The pilot project
Source.ag collaborated with Rainbow Growers, Agro Care and CombiVliet in a pilot for Source Irrigation Control, autonomously managing daily irrigation strategies in their greenhouses.
With the support of Source.ag’s algorithms, the number of days with near-perfect irrigation for the plants more than doubled compared to the industry baseline.
Joeri Everse, Growing Specialist at CombiVliet says, “During the Source Irrigation Control Pilot we saw Source is able to automate our irrigation strategy which reduces manual monitoring – and we’re looking forward to being able to manage more hectares and onboard new growers more easily in the future.”
“We think that data-driven solutions like Source Irrigation Control will drive modern agriculture.”
Source.ag’s AI technology is aiding global growers, optimising efficiency, and boosting vegetable yields in segments like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. The ultimate aim is to enhance operations for all fruit and vegetable growers worldwide.
After launching Source Track and the Source Plant App, Source.ag is now rolling out Source Irrigation Control globally, offering growers advanced tools for cultivation tracking and precise plant data measurements.
Source.ag serves growers like Agro Care and C. Zwinkels globally, with over 200 commercial greenhouses spanning 1400 hectares benefiting from their solutions.
Brief about Source.ag
Founded in 2020 by Rien Kamman and Ernst van Bruggen, Source.ag is revolutionising access to fresh produce by empowering global growers with AI. The company collaborates with growers to develop AI solutions.
These innovations simulate plant behavior, optimising cultivation strategies based on vast datasets.
Source.ag aims to make covered greenhouse agriculture accessible, profitable, and globally scalable, contributing to a mission of feeding the world in a climate-resilient and resource-efficient manner.