KWS-Aardevo, breeder of potato seedlings, has said goodbye to manual counts and switched to Track32's Seedling Measurement Service. Where previously thousands of sample trays were assessed manually, this is now done using computer vision. "This not only saves time, but also ensures that we have early, reliable data on seedling emergence and quality," says Track32's Bram Wiggers.
Track32 already has extensive experience with vision solutions in agriculture, ranging from lettuce analysis to automated hoeing machines. With its Seedling Measurement Service, the company helps breeders and growers identify usable seedlings earlier in the process, which helps with better planning and logistics. The service also provides clear visual reports per batch, giving breeders instant insight into the quality of their crops and enabling faster decisions.
"It's quite futuristic, flying a drone over thousands of trays, and then keeping an eye on every single plant," says Bram Wiggers about the special project.
Drones
Many users of the Seedling Measurement Service measure individual trays via the web app. However, KWS has integrated the technology on a large scale by using Corvus drones and QR-coded trays. "Each tray is given a unique QR code, allowing individual trays and seedlings to be accurately tracked," says Corvus' Frans-Peter Dechering. Gitzels, a plant nursery, was closely involved in the implementation, which was carried out step by step, allowing the manual process to be completely replaced.
"The joint efforts of Corvus drones, Track32 and Gitzels have provided early information, allowing us to plan field use more effectively and use resources more efficiently. In addition, we have gained valuable development insights," says Rik Muilwijk of KWS.
Within 20 days of sowing, KWS can predict germination rates and identify trays with seedlings ready for further propagation. In the next phase, the system will also analyze patterns in plant size and growth rate. This will make it possible to predict at an early stage how many plants will eventually be useful, which will help in even tighter crop planning. With this step, KWS is continuing an important development in seedling analysis, with technology and breeding increasingly converging.
For more information:
Bram Wiggers
Track32
+31(0)6 21 503 470
bram@track32.nl
www.track32.nl
KWS
www.kws.com
Corvus Drones
info@corvusdrones.com
www.corvusdrones.com