International Cooperation and Innovation in the Fruit Sector

In July, the “Orchard of the Future” program visited Washington State, with a Dutch delegation of fruit growers, cultivation advisors, technology companies and representatives of knowledge institutions. The program, put together by the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission (WTFRC), consisted of visits to various orchards, research centers and technology companies. This visit followed an earlier visit by an American delegation led by the WTFRC to the Netherlands in May, with the aim of further knowledge exchange and cooperation in the field of technology and innovation in fruit cultivation.

Why international cooperation?

Fruit cultivation is facing similar challenges worldwide, such as rising labor costs, stricter regulations on crop protection products and the impact of climate change. New technologies offer possible solutions, but their development requires considerable knowledge, time and financial resources. Through international cooperation between experts, companies and research institutions in the Netherlands and the US, the development and implementation of these technologies can be accelerated. 

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Washington State as Innovation Hub

A conscious choice was made to collaborate with Washington State because of the strong innovation culture and close collaboration between growers, technology companies and researchers, coordinated by the WTFRC. This state is home to professional cultivation companies that produce high-quality fruit. The Yakima Valley and the Wenatchee Valley are important cultivation areas with 71,000 hectares of apples, 30,000 hectares of pears and 17,000 hectares of cherries respectively.

The scale of the companies in Washington is considerably larger than in the Netherlands, which enables them to employ their own cultivation and technology specialists who focus on the implementation of new technologies. In addition, all growers in the area contribute financially to innovations through a levy of 1 USD per crate of production, resulting in an annual budget of over 3 million USD. Innovations are also additionally financed by the American government.

Findings from the visit

During the trip, the Dutch delegation saw how far Washington State has progressed with the development of affordable robots for various activities in the orchard such as thinning, picking and pruning. In contrast, the Netherlands is a leader in the application of precision technology. In terms of technology, there are many opportunities to strengthen each other.

An important theme that plays a role on both sides of the ocean is the implementation of new technologies on cultivation companies. This requires adjustments from orchard systems to 2D trees, but also a different mindset and new entrepreneurial skills. In the future, it has been agreed to exchange experiences and strategies in this area.

On the topic of crop protection, the US has a bigger problem with insects than with fungi, while in the Netherlands the focus is on protecting crops against fungi. The Dutch delegation concluded that there is much to learn from the American approach in this area, especially in monitoring and deploying its own cultivation specialists. During the visit, various innovations and knowledge institutions were visited:

Orchard maps and camera systems

The delegation’s first stop was at Allan Brothers in Zillah, where various camera systems were tested. The Canadian company Vivid Machines presented a camera with depth images that can easily be mounted on vehicles. This system provides insight into blossom quantity, fruit count and yield, and can be purchased with an annual subscription. Steve Mantle of Innov8.ag demonstrated the Green Atlas Cartographer, which quickly and efficiently creates maps of fruit trees. The device can scan 36,000 images per hour and provides detailed information for cultivation and management decisions. Orchard Robotics introduced a system with two Zed cameras, equipped with lights to compensate for sunlight. This system collects data on fruit characteristics such as number of buds, blossom development and color, and can also be mounted on vehicles.

Autonomous spraying

At Winchester Orchards of Columbia Fruit, the Prospr sprayer from Robotics Plus was on display. This fully electric and modular system can be adapted for different tasks within the orchard. The Prospr has a diesel generator that provides the machine with power 24 hours a day. The system is not yet equipped with the drift reduction technology that is common in Europe, due to the lower pressure on emissions in the sparsely populated areas of Washington. 

Automating the Picking

The search for automating the picking is a major focus in Washington. At the moment, gas is still widely used by workers. Automated Ag is working on the Bandit picking platform, which collects fruit in a bag and transports it to a storage bin. The latest version, Bandit Cyclone, uses a vacuum system to move the picked fruit faster. FF Robotics is developing a picking robot that should be able to pick up to two apples per second, with an initial goal of harvesting 60 to 70 percent of the apples in a field. The robot has twelve arms, with future versions of the robot operating independently to increase picking speed.

New technologies in development

A symposium at the Center for Precision & Automated Agricultural Systems (CPAAS) and the Ag Weather Network (AWN) showcased several new technologies. These include robotics for pruning, thinning, pollination, and fertilization, as well as systems for climate control and disease management.

A notable innovation is the soft robotic arm, developed by Washington State University (WSU). This arm, made of flexible materials such as fabric and rubber, offers a more affordable and safer alternative to rigid robots, with a cost difference of about $5,000 versus $30,000 for traditional robots.

Weather stations and water management

Several weather stations were presented during the symposium. The Crop Physiology Sensing System (CPSS) provides insight into heat stress and provides indications for cooling crops. The ATMOS 41 weather station, with 12 sensors in one device, is designed for rugged conditions. In addition, techniques were shown for monitoring moisture balance and greenhouse gas emissions via drones and flux towers. These methods can provide valuable information for water management, especially relevant in the Netherlands with increasing drought problems.

Quality measurement

To determine the optimal picking time, Loren Honaas of the USDA developed software that accurately measures the starch turnover of fruits using photos and a standardized color chart. This technology offers an objective way to assess fruit quality and can also detect abnormalities in the skin. Opportunities for strengthening cooperation and next steps

The Dutch delegation found the visit to Washington State very valuable. The growers learned a lot about the way of growing in Washington, sales opportunities were created for entrepreneurs and in addition, plenty of opportunities were seen to strengthen the bilateral innovation cooperation between the Netherlands and the US:

Key points for cooperation in technology and innovation:

• Robotization: There are opportunities to work together in the field of the development and implementation of robots for various tasks in the orchard.
• Data management: The cooperation can be expanded by sharing knowledge about data-driven cultivation and precision agriculture, in which the Netherlands currently has a lead.
• Crop protection: The Netherlands can learn a lot from the approach to insect problems in the US, while the US can benefit from Dutch knowledge in the field of fungus control.

Sales opportunities for Dutch companies

• During the visit in May, the American delegation already showed interest in Dutch companies such as Agromanager, Vitalfluid and Muckhof. Aurea was already on the radar of the American partners. This group of companies will continue testing in the coming period. Possibly with the help of DHI instruments from RVO.

Innovation adoption:

• There is a shared need to put new technologies into practice faster and more effectively, with the exchange of best practices as the central focus.
• Supporting the adoption of new technologies in practice.

Knowledge and education

• Student exchange: Facilitating network exchanges and attracting more students through international exchange programs Collaboration with CPaaS and the development of a chair at Proeftuin Randwijk.
• Setting up a Fieldlab to stimulate innovative applications in fruit cultivation.

Strengthening the Dutch ecosystem:

• Following the visit, a number of observations were made to strengthen the Dutch ecosystem, such as a strategic vision on how the Dutch community should be organized and continued.