Hort News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Fruit News
    • Vegetable News
    • Protected Crops News
    • Viticulture News
  • Supplier Directory
    • Berry Buyers Guide
    • Vine Grower Buyers Guide
    • Vegetable Grower Buyers Guide
    • Potato Grower Buyers Guide
    • Greenhouse Grower Buyers Guide
  • Our Publications
    • Buy a magazine subscription
    • Refund Policy
    • Magazine archives
      • The Fruit Grower Magazine Archives
      • The Fruit Grower Yearbooks
      • The Vegetable Farmer Magazine Archives
      • The Vegetable Farmer Yearbooks
      • The Commercial Greenhouse Grower Magazine Archives
      • The Commercial Greenhouse Grower Yearbooks
  • Classifieds
  • Events
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe now
  • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
  • Log In
    • Shopping cart
    • My account
    • My subscriptions
  • Home
  • News
    • Fruit News
    • Vegetable News
    • Protected Crops News
    • Viticulture News
  • Supplier Directory
    • Berry Buyers Guide
    • Vine Grower Buyers Guide
    • Vegetable Grower Buyers Guide
    • Potato Grower Buyers Guide
    • Greenhouse Grower Buyers Guide
  • Our Publications
    • Buy a magazine subscription
    • Refund Policy
    • Magazine archives
      • The Fruit Grower Magazine Archives
      • The Fruit Grower Yearbooks
      • The Vegetable Farmer Magazine Archives
      • The Vegetable Farmer Yearbooks
      • The Commercial Greenhouse Grower Magazine Archives
      • The Commercial Greenhouse Grower Yearbooks
  • Classifieds
  • Events
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe now
  • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
  • Log In
    • Shopping cart
    • My account
    • My subscriptions
Hort News
Cambridge start-up helping apple growers predict crops

Cambridge start-up helping apple growers predict crops

February 22, 2020
Reading Time: 1 min read
A A

A Cambridge-based agritech start-up, is using drones to help apple producers improve yield predications.

Outfield Technologies is using a combination of drone technology, 3D computer imagery and artificial intelligence. By examining trees from 30 metres above ground in summer, about eight weeks from harvest, the drones’ high-resolution cameras and computer analysis of the photos provide a far better estimate of crop yield in September or October.

“Even a day before harvest, a producer will only know the yield with about 80 per cent accuracy,” says Outfield co-founder and commercial director Jim McDougall. “Producers sell their crop well in advance, so they have to undersell by 20 per cent to ensure they can meet their commitments.”

The company has won several grants, including £95,000 of a larger £575,000 crop-maximisation grant from government agency Innovate UK, and is currently working with partners including NIAB, Worldwide Fruit, and Hutchinson. The Innovate UK grant is focused on drone-based analysis of apple blossom at an early stage to guide the application of spray blossom-thinning chemicals more precisely.

“We’re trying to resolve a problem that apple growers have in the UK and all around the world,” adds Charles Whitfield, Crop Protection Engineer at NIAB. “In a single apple orchard you get a lot of variation in neighbouring trees, so one tree might yield 50 kilograms of apples and the tree right next to it might only yield a few kilos. Growers who average out yield over the orchard may not notice, but we’re trying to smooth out those differences by targeting individual trees to receive the right amount of blossom-thinning agents.”

Photo credit: Outfield Technologies

ShareTweetPin
Previous Post

Making seeds which withstand climate change more difficult

Next Post

Tesco launches ‘sustainable basket metric’

Related Posts

Fruit Focus 2022
Fruit News

Registration is open for Fruit Focus

May 23, 2022
FPC launches UK Grower of the Year Award
Horticulture News

FPC launches UK Grower of the Year Award

May 23, 2022
Webinar explores ‘what’s growing’ in vertical farming
Horticulture News

Webinar explores ‘what’s growing’ in vertical farming

May 23, 2022
Pumpkin potential is on the rise
Horticulture News

Pumpkin potential is on the rise

May 23, 2022
Alan Down appointed as HTA Vice-President
Horticulture News

Alan Down appointed as HTA Vice-President

May 20, 2022
FEATURED: Completing the RHS Master of Horticulture can advance career progression
Horticulture News

FEATURED: Completing the RHS Master of Horticulture can advance career progression

May 19, 2022
Load More
Search
Generic filters
Sign up to our newsletter
  • Buy a magazine subscription
  • Classifieds
  • Hort Jobs
ipso regulated

NEWS WEEKLY

Get your news from HortNews in your inbox each week
Sign up

FIND US

  • Home
  • Horticulture News
  • Buy a magazine subscription
  • Classifieds
  • Events
  • Hort Jobs
  • My account
  • Copyright © HortNews
  • Privacy Policy
  • T&C
  • Refund Policy
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Fruit News
    • Vegetable News
    • Protected Crops News
    • Viticulture News
  • Supplier Directory
    • Berry Buyers Guide
    • Vine Grower Buyers Guide
    • Vegetable Grower Buyers Guide
    • Potato Grower Buyers Guide
    • Greenhouse Grower Buyers Guide
  • Our Publications
    • Buy a magazine subscription
    • Refund Policy
    • Magazine archives
      • The Fruit Grower Magazine Archives
      • The Fruit Grower Yearbooks
      • The Vegetable Farmer Magazine Archives
      • The Vegetable Farmer Yearbooks
      • The Commercial Greenhouse Grower Magazine Archives
      • The Commercial Greenhouse Grower Yearbooks
  • Classifieds
  • Events
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe now
  • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
  • Login
  • Cart

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Find out more. ACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
X