After a successful trial with Blue Radix’s Crop Controller last year, Canadian greenhouse company Lebo Farms fully embraced the AI-driven solution at the start of this year. Grower Frank Neufeld is enthusiastic about Crop Controller, highlighting its continuous development and innovation. “It creates the right climate for the plant based on past, current and future conditions, something I couldn’t achieve on my own.”
Lebo Farms was built five years ago and grows orange, yellow, and red block bell peppers on 21 hectares. The company is located in Leamington, Canada and is part of Vine Fresh Acres; which, in addition to bell peppers, grows 13.2 hectares of cucumbers. Vine Fresh Acres has been using Crop Controller for 4 years. “Their head grower was very satisfied with the system, so we wanted to implement it in the bell peppers as well.”
Frank Neufeld has been a pepper grower with Lebo since it started. “Peppers were new for us and I was just starting my career as a grower. But every year, we’ve gotten better and better, and I’ve also grown in my role as a grower “
Become more efficient
Lebo Farms is an innovative company. Frank Neufeld mentions that they are always looking for ways to improve themselves. “Our main motivation as a company is to become increasingly efficient, but also to automate more tasks. It’s difficult to attract specialized people in this area.” Frank mentions: “By implementing various tools, I, as a grower, am less dependent on others. I especially welcome tools that can help me execute tasks, that is why I was interested in working together with Blue Radix.”
Last year, we started with a section of our greenhouse, and in January of this year, we fully rolled out Crop Controller within Lebo Farms. Production during the trial phase went well, and we saw the system’s potential for increasing heating efficiency.” According to Frank, Blue Radix delivered on an important strategic promise. ” They assured us that Crop Controller would lead to energy savings, and it did. The reduction in costs has been substantial, making the cost worthwhile and reinforcing our trust in autonomous growing technology.”
At first, Frank didn’t expect he’d need Crop Controller. Yet, he started using it with interest. “Growing is a profession that demands experience, Crop Controller guides me through complex decisions and ensures optimal results, as I continue to develop my skills.”
At the right moment
Frank emphasizes that Crop Controller adds real value by anticipating weather changes and fine-tuning the climate accordingly. “The system uses the weather forecast for that day and the next day to create the right conditions for the plant at the exact right moment. I can’t do that myself. Previously, I entered the setpoints every day to the best of my ability and adjusted them when needed. But you can only make changes yourself in a reactive manner. Crop Controller adjusts at exactly the right moment to predict the ideal settings and proactively steers the greenhouse installations according to the crop plan with accurate data.”
At the same time, Frank mentions it took him some time to get used to getting into the habits of autonomous growing: “Crop Controller is an increasingly valuable tool in our cultivation process. I’ll admit, I find it sometimes hard to fully let go of control. As a grower, I’m naturally cautious. But the system is outperforming as it gathers more data and learns. That gives me real confidence. The better it performs, the more I can shift my focus to other parts of the business.
Response time is crucial
Tom van Koppen, Autonomous Greenhouse Manager at Blue Radix, operated as a second pair of expert eyes next to Frank. “The support Blue Radix provides is incredibly good. Most growers quickly become nervous when a problem arise, so response time is crucial. Blue Radix excels at that. They’re always available via WhatsApp, email, or the platform, and they respond immediately. If I run into an issue, I let Tom know right away. Usually, he has already spotted the complication before I do, and the team of Blue Radix is already offering a solution. It’s really reassuring to know that they’re always looking out for you and thinking along with you.”
Continue to grow smarter
Frank shares his excitement: “The possibilities with AI are endless. I’m confident Crop Controller will keep evolving to meet our needs and help us grow smarter every day. The irrigation module is a great example. “The integration between climate and irrigation control brings even greater advantages!”
