The future of tomato harvesting is here. Artemy, the advanced harvesting robot developed by DENSO Corporation and Certhon, is now actively operating in a commercial greenhouse of 8 hectares at The Valley, cultivating both mini cherry and cocktail tomatoes on the vine. This marks a crucial milestone in solving labour shortages in greenhouse horticulture while enhancing efficiency and productivity.
Together with The Valley Growers, part of Growers United, we’ve piloted the autonomous harvesting robot Artemy in their tomato greenhouses. Joost van der Voort, grower at The Valley, shares his experiences with this innovative technology, developed by Certhon in collaboration with DENSO. At the start of the pilot, both the grower and Artemy had to adapt. “In the beginning, it took some getting used to, both for Artemy and us. But I am truly impressed by how quickly the machine has evolved”.
Labour costs are rising, which has significant consequences for Dutch greenhouse horticulture. “Looking to the future, I see labour becoming more expensive. Profitability is declining, so we need to find ways to cut costs. Robotics is a very effective way to reduce labour expenses,” says Van der Voort. The Valley operates in a European market where the Netherlands faces high labour costs compared to neighbouring countries. “Here, labour costs can easily go over 26 euros per hour, while in Belgium, it’s much lower. But we serve the same customer, creating an uneven playing field. By innovating with robotics, we remain competitive.”
During the pilot, various logistical challenges were addressed, where Artemy’s flexibility and adaptability proved crucial. “A tomato is still a tomato, but the Japanese engineers had to make a few adjustments to ensure the Artemy functions optimally.” The pilot has showcased Artemy’s impressive potential. “I’m confident that with further refinement of the logistics, we can achieve significant reductions in labor costs. This is why we’re investing in this technology,” says Van der Voort. He highlights the rapid progress of Artemy’s development, adding: “It is a promising machine and I would say: keep an eye on it.”
