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Agriculture is facing many challenges that are related to increased prices of farming inputs, labor shortage, and climate change. Advanced machines and autonomous vehicles as well as sensor systems with increased capabilities are now present on the farm and can offer solutions to these challenges but the issue that remains is how to connect the components involved in forming an integrated digital farming system. At the same time, ISO 11783 (commonly designated as ISOBUS) is playing a substantial role in farming and an increasing number of ISOBUS-compliant machines can be seen among the farm machinery. Under this perspective, the newly funded H2020 project Robs4Crops is trying to combine agricultural robotics with the already existing implements by leveraging ISOBUS. The aim is to integrate autonomous vehicles into the available farm infrastructure and not include them as proprietary solutions. In addition, the project aims at increasing the intelligence of the implements by using sensors and analytics that in real-time can assess the efficiency of the operation performed and subsequently, by using ISOBUS, inform the robots in order for the latter to take relevant action. This work describes the development of perception units for spraying and mechanical weeding machines and how these “intelligent” implements are using ISOBUS to communicate with two different agricultural robots. From the existing results, it is becoming clear that ISOBUS can play an important role in introducing agricultural robots in farming but also facilitate the cyber-physical connection between the implements and the cloud-based solutions (e.g. digital twins).

The dataset was generated for the needs of the 3rd International Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge in the experimental facilities of the Greenhouse Horticulture Business Unit in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands in 2022. Information regarding the competition can be found here http://www.autonomousgreenhouses.com/

Over the last decade, LED lighting has gained considerable interest as an energy efficient light source in greenhouse horticulture. Much work on LED lighting is done under controlled conditions in the absence of sun light, whereas the primary application lies in supplementation of low light conditions in winter. A frequently forgotten aspect herein is that spectral composition may also affect the biology of pests and their natural enemies, both directly and indirectly through an impact on induced plant resistance. In this paper, we present results of trials with chrysanthemum and alstroemeria cut flowers which were exposed to lighting regimes with varying contributions of blue, green, red and far-red light. These trials were done under low levels of natural light, mimicking winter conditions. In chrysanthemum, spectra where blue or green were added did not affect stem length, plant dry weight and number of flowers when the percentage of red light remained over 75%. Replacing part of the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) light by far-red light considerably increased stem length and (in some species) plant dry weight, at the expense of flowering. In alstroemeria, the number of flowers harvested, their length and fresh weight was largest in the treatment with equal shares of blue, green, red and far-red light. In chrysanthemum, the beneficial insect Orius laevigatus was introduced and its egg-laying activity and population development under different lighting strategies was monitored. The number of eggs laid by the first Orius generation was affected by the percentage red light in the spectrum, with the lowest egg number found in plants grown under 95% red. The results for egg-laying by the second Orius generation differed among chrysanthemum cultivars. The implications of this work on lighting strategies for greenhouse horticulture are discussed, both in spectral composition and in timing during the day and the season.

As earlier leaf removal experiments in tomato had shown that this improved dry matter partitioning to the fruits and production, a pilot experiment with high-wire cucumber was conducted in the spring and summer of 2016 at the experimental research facilities of Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture. The five treatments were combinations of 3 or 3.5 stems m-2, and 0, 16 or 33% leaf removal in head of the crop. The combination 3.5/0% was lacking. The experimental data were analysed with the INTKAM crop growth model. The total number of fruits m-2 was the most important factor for production, which is determined by the optimal combination of stem density and assimilate supply. It is therefore important to grow the crop such that the maximum number of fruits with sufficient weight can be realized. Leaf removal in itself led to a slightly higher abortion, a lower development rate and therefore less axils, and a lower LAI with less light interception, and therefore produced less fruits and kilos. This, however, can be compensated with a higher stem density. It results in a crop with a normal LAI and architecture, combined with more axils m-2 that can bear fruits. Production and light use efficiency increase. On the other hand, labour and the risk to harvest small fruits will increase.

The function of the arrangement of leaves (phyllotaxy) in a plant increases its ability to perform photosynthesis by positioning the leaves to maximize the surface area available to intercept sunlight. In mangroves species, phyllotaxis is an unexplored phenomenon with the exception of early work from Tomlinson and Wheat. Available red mangrove models do not provide the needed flexibility in representation of tree architecture, which is needed to analyse and reconstruct the detailed architecture of saplings. The objective of the current study was to generate the phyllotactic pattern for red mangrove saplings (Rhizophora mangle) based on our 3D digitized model, in situ measurements, photographic analysis and using an algorithm. Onsite mangrove saplings (between 1 and 2.5 m) from Turneffe Atoll, Belize, were photographed. The above-ground part was digitized using the electromagnetic digitizing equipment (FASTRAK® Polhemus Inc.), high-resolution photos of the leaf arrangements were taken along with field notes and the model was constructed using the software GroIMP (Growth-grammar-related Interactive Modelling Platform). Our algorithm, enriched by probabilistic approaches for the purpose of handling perturbations in phyllotactic patterns, was able to closely refoliate our 3D model. We then used the resulting hybrid model, composed of the digitized branching structure and the algorithmically generated leaves, to simulate the interception of light by individual leaves, employing the stochastic raytracing-based radiation model. This preliminary result allows us to assess and visualize the photosynthetic contributions of single leaves throughout the canopy. Simulations of other processes (flows in xylem and phloem; mechanical behaviour) could be based on such a model.

More biodiversity and genetic diversity in crops, trees, and livestock is considered an important strategy to improve resilience and sustainability of agricultural and forestry production systems that contribute to climate mitigation and adaptation. Plant and animal breeding need to provide well-adapted varieties and breeds that fit into these systems.In this report, we draw visions of five innovative agricultural production and forestry systems and used them in focus groups of scientists, breeders, and pioneer entrepreneurs to discuss the contribution of biodiversity and genetic diversity to the sustainability and resilience of the system, breeding goals, access to genetic material to realize the breeding goals, and the priorities for breeding and research. Although transition pathways can differ between systems, strategic research i should concentrate on the relationship between wider use of genetic resources, increasing beneficial species/breed/variety interactions, and the resilience of production systems.---Meer biodiversiteit en genetische diversiteit in gewassen, bossen en landbouwhuisdieren wordt beschouwd als een belangrijke strategie voor veerkrachtige en duurzame land- en bosbouwsystemen die bijdragen aan klimaatmitigatie en -adaptatie. Veredeling en fokkerij moeten goed aangepaste rassen leveren die passen bij deze systemen. In ditr apport schetsen wij vijf visies van innovatieve land- en bosbouwsystemen en hebben deze gebruikt in focusgroepdiscussies met wetenschappers, fokkers en veredelaars, en pioniers. Met hen hebben we de bijdrage van biodiversiteit en genetische diversiteit aan de duurzaamheid en weerbaarheid van het systeem, de fok- en veredelingsdoelen, de toegang tot genetisch materiaal om die doelen te realiseren, en de prioriteiten voor onderzoek bediscussieerd. Hoewel systemen kunnen verschillen in het transitiepad, is strategisch onderzoek nodig, gericht op de relatie tussen een breder gebruik van genetische bronnen, verbetering van gunstige interacties tussen soorten/rassen, en de veerkracht van het gehele productiesysteem.

Infestations of defoliating insect pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) in many European forests are a severe economic and health problem. Therefore, implement methods of prevention and control of pest infestation events is crucial to minimize their damages. The aim of this paper is twofold. Firstly, a minimal theoretical model describing the relationships between forest leaf and the larval insects' biomass is proposed. Secondly, this model is used to understand and forecast the effects of pest infestation on a forest ecosystem and to compare different pest control policies. The simulated pest outbreaks agree with what is described in the literature. The estimate of the effects of the most commonly used infestation control policies is conducted by analyzing the variation produced by different control policies on a set of quality indicators characterizing the larval infestations and the overall condition of the forest leaf biomass. This analysis suggests that none of the proposed pest control policies provides positive results on all considered aspects.

The dataset was generated for the needs of the 3rd International Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge in the experimental facilities of the Greenhouse Horticulture Business Unit in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands in 2021. Information regarding the competition can be found here http://www.autonomousgreenhouses.com/ The dataset contains following folders:Ground Truth: includes [json] with all GT informationDepth Images: folder with 388 depth images of 16 bit in [png] format RGB Images: folder with 388 RGB images of 3x8 bit in [png] format

Chrysantenteelt is een grondgebonden teelt met 4-6 teeltcycli per jaar. De opbouw van ziekten en plagen in de bodem is aanzienlijk. Het is nu gebruikelijk de grond minstens eens per jaar te stomen. Het gerelateerde energieverbruik is 4-6 m3 gas per m2 per jaar. De ziektenopbouw wordt in verband gebracht met bedrijfshygiene, de stekken, de perspotten waarop wordt opgekweekt, de overgang van opkweek naar teeltbodem, de watergiften en het onder frezen van wortelresten en perspotten. De belangrijke ziekten en plagen zijn Pythium, Fusarium, nematoden en Thrips. In dit literatuuronderzoek wordt beschreven wat bekend is over teeltomstandigheden die bevorderlijk zijn voor de ziekten en plagen. Doel was te komen tot een beoordeling van de haalbaarheid van een chrysantenteelt zonder stomen gebaseerd op aanpassingen van de huidige teeltmethode.---Chrysanthemum are grown in a soil-based cultivation with 4-6 cultivation cycles per year. The build-up of diseases and pests in the soil is considerable. It is now common to steam the soil at least once a year. The related energy consumption is 4-6 m3 gas per m2 per year. The build-up of diseases is associated with hygiene, the cuttings, the press pots on which chrysanthemum cuttings are grown, the transition from propagation to cultivation medium, irrigation cycles and tilling root residues and press pots into the soil after cultivation. Major diseases and pests are Pythium, Fusarium, nematodes and Thrips. This literature study describes what is known about cultivation circumstances promoting diseases and pests. The aim was to assess the feasibility of a chrysanthemum crop without steaming based on adaptations of the current cultivation method.

‘Het Nieuwe Telen’ offers new insights in the water, energy and assimilate balances to better understand and to grow crop more sustainably and with lower energy use. It wants to reduce peaks in energy consumption. Such peaks can for example occur during dark and windy winter days, when heating is required to maintain temperature. Also, in case screens can not sufficiently insulate, a demand for energy can occur during cold nights. Temperature integration is one of the means to limit peaks in costs of energy consumption. The basic concept is: do not use more energy than necessary at cold moments and cool as little as possible at warm moments. This will call on the long-term plasticity of the crop in terms of growth and development. This study makes an inventory of existing knowledge on temperature integration, in particular over longer periods, from the perspectives of both research and practice, and suggests directions for future development. It pays attention to fruit and other vegetables, green potted plants, flowering potted plants, and cut flowers. It is argued that temperature integration is a good addition to the strategy of ‘Het Nieuwe Telen’. Het Nieuwe Telen biedt nieuwe inzichten in de vocht-, energie- en assimilatenbalansen om beter te begrijpen en duurzamer en energiezuiniger te telen. Het wil pieken in het energieverbruik reduceren. Zulke pieken kunnen bijvoorbeeld ontstaan als op donkere winterdagen er veel wind staat en er bij een onbelichte teelt verwarmd moet worden om de kastemperatuur op peil te houden. Daarnaast kan er in koude nachten, als de schermen niet voldoende warmte kunnen vasthouden, een energievraag ontstaan. Temperatuurintegratie is een van de middelen om het piekverbruik en de kosten van duurzame warmte te beperken. Het basisconcept is: verbruik niet meer energie dan nodig op koudere momenten en koel zo weinig mogelijk op warmere momenten. Hierbij zal er een beroep gedaan worden op de langdurige plasticiteit van het gewas op het gebied van groei en ontwikkeling. Deze studie inventariseert bestaande kennis over temperatuurintegratie, met name over langere perioden, vanuit het onderzoek en de praktijk, en geeft richtingen voor nieuwe ontwikkelingen. Er wordt aandacht gegeven aan vruchtgroenten en andere groenten, groene potplanten, bloeiende potplanten en snijbloemen. Er wordt beargumenteerd dat temperatuurintegratie is een goede aanvulling is op de strategie van Het Nieuwe Telen.

Greenhouses and indoor farming systems play an important role in providing fresh and nutritious food for the growing global population. Farms are becoming larger and greenhouse growers need to make complex decisions to maximize production and minimize resource use while meeting market requirements. However, highly skilled labor is increasingly lacking in the greenhouse sector. Moreover, extreme events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, can make farms temporarily less accessible. This highlights the need for more autonomous and remote-control strategies for greenhouse production. This paper describes and analyzes the results of the second &ldquo, Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge&rdquo, In this challenge, an experiment was conducted in six high-tech greenhouse compartments during a period of six months of cherry tomato growing. The primary goal of the greenhouse operation was to maximize net profit, by controlling the greenhouse climate and crop with AI techniques. Five international teams with backgrounds in AI and horticulture were challenged in a competition to operate their own compartment remotely. They developed intelligent algorithms and use sensor data to determine climate setpoints and crop management strategy. All AI supported teams outperformed a human-operated greenhouse that served as reference. From the results obtained by the teams and from the analysis of the different climate-crop strategies, it was possible to detect challenges and opportunities for the future implementation of remote-control systems in greenhouse production.

The dataset contains data on outdoor and indoor greenhouse climate, irrigation, status of actuators, requested and realized climate setpoints, resource consumption, harvest, crop-related parameters, tomato quality, analysis of irrigation and drain samples and root-zone/slab information. Data were collected during a 6-month cherry tomato production (cv. Axiany) in 6 high-tech glasshouse compartments, located at the Wageningen Research Centre in Bleiswijk (The Netherlands). The dataset was produced during the second edition of Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge. This competition sees five international teams - consisting of scientists, professionals and students with multi-disciplinary expertise - challenging themselves in order to make a large step towards the Autonomous Greenhouse. The teams' names are: The Automators, AICU, IUA.CAAS, Digilog and Automatoes. The teams developed their own intelligent algorithms and used them to determine the set points for climate, irrigation and a number of cultivation-related parameters and control the production of cherry tomato crop remotely. The teams objective was to maximize net profit, by minimizing use of resources (e.g. water, nutrients, energy -heating and electricity- CO2) while optimizing income as a function of production and fruit quality. The achievements in AI-controlled compartments were compared with a reference compartment, operated manually by three Dutch commercial growers (named Reference). The dataset contains raw and processed data. Raw data were collected via climate measuring boxes and sensors, climate and irrigation process computer, weather station, manual registrations (performed by the greenhouse staff).

Potted plants have been reported to uptake VOCs and help ‘cleaning’ the air. This paper presents the results of a laboratory study in which two species of plants (Peace Lily and Boston Fern) and three kinds of substrates (expanded clay, soil and activated carbon) were tested and monitored on their capacity to deplete formaldehyde and CO2 in a glass chamber. Formaldehyde and CO2 were selected as indicators to evaluate the bio-filtration efficacy of 28 different test conditions; relative humidity (RH) and temperature (T) were monitored during the experiments. To evaluate the efficacy of every test the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) was calculated. Overall, soil had the best performance in removing formaldehyde (~ 0.07–0.16 m3/h), while plants, in particular, were more effective in reducing CO2 concentrations (Peace lily 0.01m3/h) (Boston fern 0.02-0.03m3/h). On average, plants (~ 0.03 m3/h) were as effective as dry expanded clay (0.02–0.04 m3/h) in depleting formaldehyde from the chamber. Regarding air cleaning performance, Boston ferns presented the best performance among the plant species, and the best performing substrate was the soil.