"We hope to be able to streamline operations, grow profits and improve our sustainability"
Source: VFD.com
ADOPT, which promotes collaborative practice and knowledge-sharing across the UK agriculture sector, has backed the project as a model for how smaller controlled environment agriculture (CEA) operators can improve operational efficiency and resilience through shared technology. The deployment is running across Harvest London's Canada Water and Lea Bridge facilities and Crate to Plate's operation in Canary Wharf.
Waste is reduced and working capital requirements are lower, with early estimates pointing to resource savings of around 10% across operations. © Harvest London Chris Davies, CEO of Harvest London, said: "Linking demand signals directly to production planning represents a major step toward more responsive and efficient food systems.
At Harvest London, we are delighted to be at the forefront of innovation in Vertical Farming." Daniel Tristao, CEO of Crate to Plate, said: "By implementing the ANI software package, we hope to be able to streamline operations, grow profits and improve our sustainability. Cooperation on best practice is the way forward for all Controlled Environment Agriculture and being part of DEFRA's ADOPT programme is an important part of that work." © Harvest London Ani is system-agnostic and is being developed for wider deployment across the CEA sector.
Why this matters: For operators, this is a water-management story. The useful signal is that direct substrate measurements can help cut drain loss materially without giving up yield or fruit quality, which is exactly the kind of controllable efficiency gain a facility can build on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does substrate sensing matter in free-drain strawberry systems?
Because drain percentage tells a grower what already happened, while substrate moisture and EC data show root-zone conditions directly. That makes it easier to cut water loss without guessing.
What is the operator takeaway from this trial?
If the thresholds are understood well enough, growers can reduce drain water materially while protecting yield and fruit quality, which makes sensing an operational tool instead of a reporting tool.
