In recent years, getting fresh produce into the hands of consumers has become increasingly challenging due to climate change, intricate supply chains, and rising costs. Currently, agricultural companies are looking for creative ways to overcome these hurdles and promote food security. One of them is Nature Fresh Farms in Leamington, Ontario founded by Peter Quiringis in 1999 and is one of Canada’s largest independent greenhouse producers.
The company is striving for greater agricultural advancements, and Intel is helping with that. Recently, Intel has supplied sensors, cameras, and artificial intelligence (AI) technology to empower Nature Fresh Farms on its 150-acre greenhouse. The technology will help its farmers make real-time decisions like monitoring plant growth, managing irrigation frequency and quantity, and harvest timing.
Smart farming
Intel’s Xeon data center processor and OpenVINO, an optimization tool for AI models, are helping monitor Nature Fresh Farms’ produce. Typically, Xeon processors are better suited for workstations or server environments. This is because they are designed for 24/7 operations, offer higher core counts, and are optimized for demanding workloads, compared to traditional CPUs.
In the case of Nature Fresh Farms, Xeon processors allow the CPU to process the data while OpenVINO leverages the Xeons’ built-in accelerators for AI model inferencing. According to Intel, the system has helped reduce the time for the farm to capture, process, and analyze data from three hours to 30 minutes.
When a seed is planted, the sensors will continuously monitor the plant’s growth. The OpenVINO-optimized algorithm will forecast the plant’s needs at any given point. Once the sensors confirm the fruit or vegetable is the correct size and color, the signal will trigger the harvesting process. Instead of manual inspection during packaging, an AI sorting system will analyze images of the produce to verify quality and ripeness. The system has accelerated Nature Fresh Farms’ delivery from the typical farm’s average of four to 10 days to just 24-48 hours.
-
Image: Intel
Technological green thumb
Intel says that over $1 trillion worth of perishable food goes directly from farms to landfills every year – equal to 130 billion meals, and that number continues to grow. The process aims to curb this trend by providing Nature Fresh Farm’s farmers with full traceability from seed to store. This includes determining irrigation needs and identifying where it was harvested. In theory, if there is a concern, farmers can identify the source without recalling entire shipments.
Keith Bradley, vice president of Informational Technology at Nature Fresh Farms, said that because plants can’t communicate their needs like humans can, it is critical to look for cues to know what each plant needs at any given point. He says, “If we are trialing 20 different varieties of tomatoes, we might find the perfect tasting one, but data tells us it won’t last long on the shelf. So, it all comes back to the data to help determine how we do things.” Bradley hopes that, with the help of Intel’s technology, “growers can get back in the greenhouse to look, feel and touch the plants again,” ultimately letting technology do some of the heavy lifting.
Challenges to face
The initial investment in the technology and the ongoing maintenance may not be feasible for all operators. As of now, there has been no disclosure of the project’s cost by Nature Fresh Farms or Intel, however, it is anticipated to be a significant amount. While traditional production costs may decrease, there is no certainty that all farmers can afford this technology. This could widen the gap between technologically advanced farms and those with limited access to resources.
Additionally, implementing systems reliant on AI, sensors, and data analytics can lead to operational disruptions if there are technical failures. This dependency requires ongoing maintenance and training, posing challenges for farmers less familiar with digital tools. The lifespan of Intel’s technology and its ability to consistently perform under varying environmental conditions are also critical points. Currently, there is no evidence indicating whether the Xeon processor can withstand severe weather conditions outside of Ontario. Despite these hurdles, Bradley says Nature Fresh Farms is “not scared to fail,” and remains committed to embracing innovation in agriculture.
Photo credit: The images used are owned by Intel and were provided as part of a press kit.
Source: Press Release
