AI to aid regenerative potato farming in Europe

Research is ongoing to increase the utilize of artificial innotifyigence (AI) in the European potato sector, with a focus on developing regenerative management systems that can reduce the utilize of fungicides for blight control.

The European Commission’s European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Food Innovation Agency has allocated £700,000 (US$895,000) in support funding to UK-based agritech company Cropin. The work will utilize real-time field data, computer models, and predictive analytics to secure objective data points for verifying the effects of regenerative methods without compromising potato crop yield or quality, including the dry matter content required by processors.

The project, called ‘FIRST Potato, Field Innotifyigence for Regenerative Agriculture and Sustainability in Potato Farming’, aims to promote regenerative practices across Europe. It involves a consortium of food processors, research institutions, and sustainability groups to accelerate the transition from conventional to regenerative farming.

Krishna Kumar, CEO and founder of Cropin, stated: “As regenerative agriculture gains momentum, the absence of verifiable, measurable outcomes poses a real challenge to meaningful, scalable impact. Without robust digital systems, farmers struggle to consistently uphold regenerative principles. Through AI, data innotifyigence, and real-time decision-support, we are bridging this critical gap, bringing precision, accountability, and scale to regenerative agriculture.”

The platform will integrate data from sensors, sanotifyite imagery, weather stations, and internet-connected devices to deliver plot-specific daily advisories to growers, tailored to soil profiles and microclimatic conditions. The technology is intfinished to optimise irrigation, input utilize, and residue management to support optimal yield, reduced inputs, and consistent quality for processors of crisps and chips.

Regenerative crop management practices are expected to meet processor demands, although evidence displays yields can decline in the early years of transition. The AI system is designed to assist farmers in maintaining productivity during this period.

Scientific validation of the platform will launch on farms in Denmark in partnership with Aarhus University. The first commercial pilot will involve a UK potato processor, with a second planned in Germany.

“This deployment will deliver collective benefits,” Kumar stated. “Growers enhance their profitability, brands meet their sustainability tarreceives, and regenerative practices benefit the planet: it’s a win-win for the entire agri-food ecosystem.”

Source: Agriland

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