Register for free to
view the full innovation profile.
Harvesta is an automated, machine learning-powered harvester that maximises crops we already grow, unlocking alternative protein and fibre to nourish a growing planet sustainably.
About
Upcycled Plant Power (UPP) transforms underutilised crops parts into hypoallergenic, nutritious, and sustainable ingredients for food manufacturers, suitable for both plant-based and meat-based applications. UPP leverages smart harvesting to address labour shortages and uses data-driven insights to optimise crop efficiency for farmers. By enhancing efficiency and sustainability across the agricultural supply chain, UPP transforms potential food waste into good quality, value-added ingredients.
Key Benefits
- Reduces Agricultural Waste: Harvesta minimises waste by optimising crop harvesting, ensuring more of the plant is utilised for alternative protein and fibre, reducing discarded plant parts.
- Reduces Crop Losses: The automated precision harvesting system minimises crop losses by selecting the best heads for harvest, ensuring maximum yield and reducing the number of unharvested crops.
- Reduces Food Waste: Harvesta reduces food waste by maximising the use of the whole broccoli plants, ensuring more of the crop is harvested and utilised right from the field.
- Lowers Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions: With the ability to harvest at cooler temperatures, Harvesta cuts energy costs for chilling, reducing carbon emissions from energy-intensive processes. Additionally, by minimizing waste left to rot in the field, Harvesta helps reduce methane emissions, further supporting climate-conscious farming practices.
- Cuts Labour Costs: By significantly reducing the need for manual labour, Harvesta lowers the high costs traditionally associated with hand-harvesting, improving the economics of broccoli production.
- Supports Sustainable Agriculture: Harvesta’s use of machine learning and data-driven insights enhances farming efficiency, promotes sustainable practices, and helps farmers make informed decisions to optimise their operations.
Applications
The innovation known as Harvesta (Automated Harvester) is designed for progressive farmers, agribusinesses, and crop producers, particularly in the broccoli sector, seeking to improve operational efficiency and profitability. This automated harvester reduces reliance on manual labour, which traditionally requires multiple passes over fields, lowering harvesting costs and increasing overall efficiency. By effectively utilising more parts of the plant, including the often-wasted stalks, Harvesta allows for the creation of valuable by-products and alternative ingredients. Additionally, Harvesta employs machine learning technology to precisely identify and harvest crops at optimal times, maximising yield while minimising waste.
Complementing this, Intellia, a data-driven insights portal, provides farmers with actionable information to refine their farming practices and optimise resource use. By leveraging big data, Intellia enables farmers to make informed, data-backed decisions, addressing key industry challenges like labour shortages and profitability concerns. Together, Harvesta and Intellia offer a comprehensive solution for modern farmers looking to enhance sustainability, reduce waste, and improve the bottom line.