GLOBAL – Corvus Drones and GrowerAdviser have teamed up to address the substantial mismatch between rose production and consumer demand—a costly problem estimated at EUR 50 million (USD 54.1 million) annually.
Their new rose yield prediction service, designed to improve accuracy in bud and flower stage counts, promises to support growers worldwide in reducing waste and maximizing productivity.
Rising demand in global rose markets has underscored the need for precise yield predictions, an area where traditional manual counts have often fallen short.
In response, Corvus Drones’ new system employs automated drone flights through greenhouses to capture real-time crop images. These images are processed by AI-based computer vision technology, which analyzes growth stages and offers accurate yield predictions with minimal manual input.
According to Corvus Drones’ spokesperson, “Our new rose yield prediction tool empowers growers to align their production with market demands in a way that manual counting cannot.”
The program has been tested in The Netherlands and Ecuador, achieving an accuracy rate of 90% for short-term predictions and 85% for longer-term projections, across popular rose varieties such as Red Naomi, Avalanche, Cotopaxi, and Tycoon.
The tool, marketed as a “Drone as a Service” (DaaS), is currently used by growers across 15 countries, including the USA, Germany, and Kenya. The drone is highly adaptable, operating in any greenhouse with a minimum flight space of 250 cm, making it accessible to a diverse range of facilities.
For a modest fee, growers can gain access to valuable predictive analytics without the need for expensive, permanent investments.
Corvus Drones has collaborated with GrowerAdviser, a subsidiary of Quantum_Inc., to integrate detailed data analysis into the yield prediction reports. The system combines real-time bud counts with climate, historical, and weather data to produce precise growth forecasts.
“With such comprehensive analysis, growers are equipped with actionable insights to meet their target yields consistently,” said a GrowerAdviser representative.
Beyond yield prediction, the company is testing a powdery mildew detection feature—an innovation that could significantly reduce crop loss from one of the most common diseases affecting roses.
Even small infestations, as tiny as 1-2 mm, are detected and pinpointed on an interactive greenhouse map, allowing growers to take swift action.
Early tests of this mildew detection feature have shown encouraging results, promising a comprehensive solution for disease management soon.
The launch of the rose yield prediction service highlights a growing trend in sustainable rose production. Many rose producers, like those partnering with Corvus Drones, are also investing in systems like Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and advanced hydration technologies to limit chemical usage and reduce carbon footprints.
These integrated technologies represent an industry shift toward practices that prioritize both productivity and environmental responsibility.
The rose yield prediction application will be launched at the IFTF exhibition (booth A1.27), November 5-7 in The Netherlands.
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