We are excited to spotlight René Tort Llanos, the Director General and CEO of Bionatur Invernaderos Biologicos in Mexico. Their greenhouse spans 80 hectares, and they’ve been in business for over 20 years.
As Bionatur adopts Blue Radix’s Crop Controller, the company is not just leveraging advanced technology but also the personal touch of Autonomous Greenhouse Managers. René is dedicated to enhancing operational efficiency while ensuring his team receives tailored support in optimizing their strategies. In this conversation, we explore his insights on how the combination of innovative AI solutions and the expertise of Autonomous Greenhouse Managers is transforming greenhouse management at Bionatur.
My advice is simple: Don’t wait. AI is not just the future; it’s happening now. If you’re not exploring AI solutions, you risk falling behind. The setup is simpler than you might expect, especially if you already have modern systems in place, and the benefits in terms of efficiency, cost savings, and competitive advantage are enormous. Autonomous growing is a solution that can transform your business.
Hi, I’m René Tort Llanos, Director General and CEO of Bionatur Invernaderos Biologicos in Mexico.
Our greenhouse spans 80 hectares, and we’ve been in business for over 20 years. We’ve always focused on innovation in our growing practices, recently transitioning to autonomous crop management with AI technologies like Blue Radix’s Crop Controller.
I first heard about the power of AI during a conference in Austin, where a professor stressed the importance of AI in greenhouse management. He said that if you’re not exploring AI, your business might not survive in the next five years. This prompted me to ask our head grower to investigate AI solutions, which led us to Blue Radix and Crop Controller.
The motivation came from the realization that AI could help us stay competitive. I wanted to make our operations more efficient, reduce costs, and give my growers more time to focus on what really matters—optimizing strategies in the greenhouse. It became clear that AI could take care of the routine tasks, allowing us to invest our energy in high-value activities.
Yes, setting up Crop Controller was surprisingly easy. We already had a modernized Priva Climate Computer and many years of data on hand, which made the transition seamless. The agorithms processed all of our data in just two weeks, faster than we expected. It began with climate control, then screens, and to the next step is handing over the irrigation system as well.
The support from your team has been excellent—definitely 5 out of 5 stars. They were always available through WhatsApp or email for any questions. When our head grower left the company, your team was on a call with us at 8 a.m. the next morning to make sure we continued running smoothly. This level of responsiveness gave us the confidence to trust the AI system as we learned more about it.
Absolutely. The integration of Crop Controller with our existing Priva Climate Computer was smooth with no need for additional equipment. We simply connect our greenhouse to the Crop Controller portal, and its algorithms began working on the available data we stored.
Initially, I had concerns about fully trusting an AI system. As humans, it takes time to feel comfortable relying on something we can’t see or talk to face-to-face. However, the team at Blue Radix was incredibly supportive and always there to explain how everything worked. They helped us set parameters and addressed any concerns we had right away. I was particularly surprised at how quickly the AI learned from our many years of data. My expectations were exceeded in terms of how fast and efficient the setup was.
In the coming years, I see Crop Controller becoming an even more integral part of our operations. It’s already handling climate control, and soon it will manage irrigation. This technology will allow our growers to spend more time inside the greenhouse, reviewing strategies and making decisions to achieve optimal results. I expect it to increase our efficiency and provide a significant competitive edge.
My advice is simple: Don’t wait. AI is not just the future; it’s happening now. If you’re not exploring AI solutions, you risk falling behind. The setup is simpler than you might expect, especially if you already have modern systems in place, and the benefits in terms of efficiency, cost savings, and competitive advantage are enormous. Autonomous growing is a solution that can transform your business.
As Bionatur continues to innovate and embrace AI technology, René Tort Llanos stands as a testament to the power of integrating human expertise with advanced solutions. The journey toward autonomous growing is not just about technology; it’s about enhancing the human experience in horticulture.
Ready to see how Crop Controller can elevate your growing process? Sign up for a free demo and discover how autonomous growing can revolutionize your operations
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