Virtual services
Overview
AgroWizard, a Dutch AgTech startup, is transforming horticulture with an AI-powered computer vision system that automates stem measurement and tree mapping. Tested at Boomkwekerij Udenhout, the solution is capable of measuring up to 10,000 trees per hour, far exceeding the capabilities of traditional manual methods. Supported by the agrifoodTEF Dutch Node through Wageningen University & Research (WUR), AgroWizard also assessed the ethical, legal, and societal aspects (ELSA) of AI adoption, ensuring that the technology can be deployed responsibly and scaled across the European horticulture sector.
Impact
The adoption of AgroWizard’s AI-powered measurement system has delivered clear, measurable benefits for tree nurseries. Automated computer-vision-based measurements allow growers to process up to 10,000 trees per hour, compared to a few hundred with manual methods, resulting in an order-of-magnitude increase in productivity. This translates into significant labour cost savings, reduced dependency on seasonal workforce availability, and a drastic reduction in human error.
The system provides consistent, high-precision measurements in real time, enabling growers to make better-informed decisions on plant growth, grading, quality control, and commercial planning. More reliable data improves traceability and supports data-driven pricing and sales strategies, directly strengthening competitiveness in the market.
By processing images locally through edge computing, AgroWizard’s solution also reduces data transfer volumes and costs, while enhancing data security and privacy, a key concern for growers adopting digital technologies.
Beyond operational efficiency, the agrifoodTEF-supported ELSA Scan, involving 25 stakeholders from industry, policy, and research, created a structured dialogue on responsible AI use. It helped clarify issues related to data ownership, governance, and regulatory compliance, increasing trust in the technology and lowering barriers to adoption.
Overall, the collaboration with agrifoodTEF has not only improved day-to-day nursery operations, but also laid the foundation for scalable, sustainable, and ethically guided AI deployment across the European horticulture sector.
The Challenge
Tree nurseries have traditionally relied on manual stem measurements, which are slow, costly, and prone to error. At the same time, the sector faces growing pressures to improve efficiency, traceability, and quality while managing rising labor costs. Existing enterprise systems are often ill-equipped to integrate new sensor and AI data, creating a barrier for innovation. European growers need solutions that deliver accurate, real-time insights without disrupting workflows and that adhere to ethical and regulatory standards.
The Solution
AgroWizard’s system combines computer vision, edge computing, and a data visualization platform to automatically capture and process tree measurements.
Images are analyzed locally and converted into actionable numerical data, reducing transfer costs and protecting privacy. With the support of agrifoodTEF and WUR, the team conducted an ELSA Scan involving surveys, interviews, and a stakeholder workshop, which identified potential risks and opportunities and laid the groundwork for responsible AI adoption. The collaboration demonstrates how advanced technologies can be integrated in a sustainable and ethically informed manner, setting the stage for broader deployment across European horticulture.
