From good to better – STC and BlueGreen Farming in joint development project
Through a collaboration between STC Research Centre and BlueGreen Farming AB, it is investigated how AI can be used to improve and streamline cultivation in stores. The project can pave the way for the sustainable and digitally monitored food production of the future.
All watercourses have their source – a beginning that grows stronger over time. For BlueGreen Farming AB, it all started in the autumn of 2015 in a meeting between Olof Frensborg from Härnösand and Nawras Alashour, a new arrival from Syria. Together, they developed cultivation systems based on hydroponic and aquaponic technology, with support from Leader Högakusten and the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
A meeting with ICA retailer Erik Geijer in Sundsvall was the start of a new company. The result: a store-adapted cultivation system where herbs and leafy greens can be grown directly in the store – fresher, tastier and more sustainable.
- Our idea was simple: to move the cultivation closer to the customer and at the same time create a cycle that is both energy-efficient and resource-efficient, says Olof Frensborg, founder of BlueGreen Farming AB.
After a successful launch at ICA Kvantum in Kvissleby, the company realized that the system could be further improved. The work effort in the store needed to be reduced and the technology simplified. The new version, which is currently installed in several stores, is based on an automated badge and sensor system. The store staff only receive new pre-sown cultivation pucks a few times a year and can follow the harvest and status in real time via their mobile phones.
This innovation case clearly shows how research and innovation can work together to create smart and sustainable solutions. Through AI, we gain insights that both BlueGreen Farming and the store staff can use to improve cultivation
- We have gone from having to be on site every day to being able to monitor the entire system remotely. It saves both time and resources – and makes it possible to scale up in a sustainable way, says Olof Frensborg.
The collaboration with the STC Research Centre at Mid Sweden University has now taken the next step: AI is used to analyse the growth process. Cameras in the cultivation cabinets collect data that makes it possible to detect deviations early and optimize growing conditions.
- This innovation case clearly shows how research and innovation can work together to create smart and sustainable solutions. Through AI, we gain insights that both BlueGreen Farming and the store staff can use to improve cultivation, says Mattias O'Nils, centre director for STC Research Centre
- It's about understanding what is happening in the cultivation – in real time. Through AI, we can see small changes that the eye does not perceive and act before something goes wrong. This is the next step in making cultivation even smarter, concludes Olof Frensborg.
The project shows how research and innovation can come together to create solutions that both strengthen food security and contribute to a greener future.
Part of the research project DIGIT
The collaboration is part of the research project DIGIT – Sustainable Digital Transformation. The project is funded with support from the European Union, Region Västernorrland and Region Jämtland Härjedalen.