Digital twin technology provides growers with greater data insights

Added on 11 December 2024

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Digital twin technology provides growers with greater data insights

Photo: WUR

Predicting crop growth is becoming increasingly refined. Wageningen University & Research BU Horticulture utilizes digital twins, linking greenhouse data with 3D functional-structural plant models. This technology allows immediate analysis of changes in climate control or cultivation strategies. Researcher Maarten van der Meer notes, “With digital twin technology, growers will soon be able to achieve more with their data.”

WUR collaborates with Sobolt and LetsGrow/Hoogendoorn to develop a 3D digital plant growth model offering insights into water balance and light distribution in the greenhouse. This model will soon be validated at Tomatoworld, where growers will test a dashboard that aids cultivation decisions. Van der Meer says, “As digitalization progresses, more data is available. With a dashboard, growers gain better insights into crop growth, light distribution, temperature, water usage, and forecasting for the near future.”