Successful projects on strawberries, cherries, grapes and other crops
Proven technology worldwide on various crops
The Thorvald autonomous robot developed by Saga Robotics is revolutionizing strawberry production in Florida and the United Kingdom. The video shows how the robot operates on commercial strawberry farms, performing nighttime UV-C treatments with full autonomy.
NMBU Robotics + Saga Robotics
Thorvald Autonomous Robot
Commercial Strawberry Farm
NMBU Robotics' spin-off company, Saga Robotics, has deployed Thorvald robots in Florida. The robots are equipped with special UV frames that bend over plants to ensure optimal dosage.
Treatment is fully automatic from start to docking. UV light effectively destroys powdery mildew spores before infection develops.
The video showcases a joint project by A Lighter Touch and Summerfruit New Zealand at the 45 South Cherries orchard in Cromwell. They combine the electric Burro autonomous robot with the UVEXโข UV-C system.
45 South Cherries (Cromwell, New Zealand) in collaboration with Agri Automation is investigating UV-C technology. The Burro robot navigates autonomously between rows while UV panels treat the canopy.
Experiments confirmed that the technology is safe for blooming while drastically reducing pathogen presence.
45 South Cherries + Agri Automation
Summerfruit New Zealand
Cromwell, Central Otago
The video presents David Gadoury's revolutionary research at Cornell AgriTech. The research team discovered plant pathology's "Achilles heel": powdery mildew fungi cannot repair their DNA at night.
Cornell AgriTech
Led by David Gadoury
Geneva, New York
The Cornell University research team led by David Gadoury laid the foundation for modern UV-C crop protection through decades of work. The "Light and Plant Health" project proved that properly dosed UV-C light can replace chemical fungicides.
Research showed that UV-C treatment not only destroys diseases but can also stimulate the plant's own defense system, increasing, for example, the resveratrol content of grapes.
This is the first large-scale UV-C application in Hungary. The video showcases the collaboration between Szerencsรฉs Winery and VitiRay in Kiskunhalas, where they have been successfully applying the technology since 2024.
Szerencsรฉs Winery in Kiskunhalas has been using the XAG R150 robot for UV-C treatment since March 2024. The project aims to adapt domestically and validate the technology under operational conditions.
Nighttime autonomous treatment brought excellent results: the vineyard remained healthy even under extreme infection pressure. The robot's quiet, electric operation and chemical-free nature fit into sustainable farming.
Szerencsรฉs Winery
Kiskunhalas, Kunsรกg Wine Region
XAG R150 Robot
Dutch CleanLight technology provides a chemical-free solution in potato cultivation. The video shows how UV-C light is applied against potato's most dangerous fungal diseases.
CleanLight BV
Against Mildew and Phytophthora
CleanLight UV System
CleanLight developed this potato protection system as a Dutch expert. The tractor-mounted unit enables fast and effective treatment of large fields, which is critical for rapidly spreading diseases.
Particularly noteworthy is protection against Phytophthora (late blight), which traditionally requires intensive chemical use. UV-C light physically destroys pathogens, ensuring long-term protection.
The Icaro X4 developed by Italian Free Green Nature is the world's first hybrid-powered autonomous UV-C robot. The video shows the robot working in a modern trellis apple orchard, where it opens its "wings" to treat the canopy.
The Icaro X4's specialty is its robust construction and hybrid system, which solves the charging time problem of electric robots. The machine can work all night without interruption, when UV-C treatment is most effective.
In the apple orchard shown in the video, the machine's side panels vertically treat the canopy. This technology fits excellently into intensive, high-density orchards where replacing or reducing chemicals is the goal.
Free Green Nature
Trellis Apple Orchard
Hybrid UV-C Robot
A vineyard near Telford, Shropshire, is the first in the country to trial mobile UV lamps on vines. After installing the ยฃ60,000 system, the owner discovered the technology during a trip. The system travels along rows, delivering UV light as extra "sunlight," helping plants fight diseases (e.g., powdery mildew) and prepare for cold weather (e.g., frost).
Shropshire Vineyard
Mobile UV System
Near Telford
The United Kingdom's first mobile UV system in a Shropshire vineyard. The technology helps plants defend against diseases with extra UV doses and prepare for cold weather.
Initial observations show stronger chlorophyll and darker leaves. The system reduces fungicide use and is expected to pay back quickly through better crop quality.
Against powdery mildew, downy mildew and black rot. Nighttime chemical-free treatment with proven 85-100% effectiveness.
Protection of apples, apricots, sour cherries, cherries and pears against fungal diseases. No food safety waiting period.
Autonomous robot, 4 hour runtime, ยฑ2 cm accurate RTK GPS navigation, 12m UV-C coverage. Modular design.
UV-C technology can be applied to additional crops
Cucumber, tomato, pepper in greenhouses and open fields.
Oregano, basil, mint โ while preserving essential oil content.
Rose powdery mildew protection in greenhouses.
Blueberry, raspberry, blackberry gray mold protection.
Interested in UV-C treatment for a specific crop?
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