Articles
SENSORS AND PRECISION FARMING IN HORTICULTURE
Article number
562_1
Pages
19 – 27
Language
English
Abstract
The technical evolution in the horticultural production is accompanied by changes in cultural practices, new varieties or new chemical treatments.The successes of the past have generated new possibilities and new demands, for example, for an even further reduction of production costs under more severe market constraints or environmental pressure.
Technological developments in electronics and sensors create the possibilities for a more precise production system that takes into account the natural variability of biological production and its environment.
Some examples of possible applications of precision agriculture technology for production and postharvest treatment of crops are given.
It makes it possible to monitor and control production quantity and especially quality such that the requirements of the consumers and the markets can be continuously taken into account during the production and post harvest process, from the planting to the eating.
This technological development also requires a better understanding of the the biological processes and of the properties of the biological materials.
This then can be used in concurrent engineering work in which biology, electronics, software and mechanics are bundled for new procedures in a quality assurance system of horticultural production.
It leads to an horticultural production technology that enables to deliver products with a precisely specified quality using accurate and precise cultural practices.
Technological developments in electronics and sensors create the possibilities for a more precise production system that takes into account the natural variability of biological production and its environment.
Some examples of possible applications of precision agriculture technology for production and postharvest treatment of crops are given.
It makes it possible to monitor and control production quantity and especially quality such that the requirements of the consumers and the markets can be continuously taken into account during the production and post harvest process, from the planting to the eating.
This technological development also requires a better understanding of the the biological processes and of the properties of the biological materials.
This then can be used in concurrent engineering work in which biology, electronics, software and mechanics are bundled for new procedures in a quality assurance system of horticultural production.
It leads to an horticultural production technology that enables to deliver products with a precisely specified quality using accurate and precise cultural practices.
Authors
J. De Baerdemaeker
Keywords
precision farming, sensors, crop monitoring, postharvest
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