Check Out This Pollination Robot Designed for Tomato Growers

Biobest has announced the market introduction of Polly, a pollination robot designed for tomato growers. The launch follows five years of close collaboration between Biobest and Arugga AI Farming, during which the technology was developed, refined, and tested extensively in commercial greenhouses across Europe and North America.

Using advanced cameras and intelligent image recognition, Polly analyzes individual flowers to identify those ready for pollination. It then delivers precisely controlled bursts of air to stimulate pollen release and maximize fruit set.

“Arugga’s pollination robots are designed to work alongside bumblebees,” explains Jorden van de Walle, Product Manager for Pollination at Biobest. “They provide an additional layer of pollination security, helping maintain consistent pollination even when environmental conditions limit bumblebee activity. At the same time, they can enhance overall pollination performance, helping growers maximize their yield potential and improve profitability.”

Bumblebees are highly effective pollinators, but certain environmental conditions can limit their activity and affect pollination performance. “In winter, shorter days, lower light levels, supplementary LED lighting and the use of energy-saving thermal screens can all reduce their pollination efficiency and yield,” Jorden says. “In summer, temperatures above 95°F can also negatively affect bumblebee activity and pollination performance.”

This is where Polly makes a difference. During the darkest winter days and hottest summer months, the robot continues pollinating.

“Trials have consistently demonstrated yield improvements of 2% to 6%, while in most cases an increase of just 1.5% is enough to achieve a positive return on investment,” Jorden adds. “Over the past year, we have also achieved two major milestones that give us full confidence in Polly’s readiness for commercial launch. First, we have significantly increased the robot’s operating speed, meaning that just one Polly robot is now sufficient to cover one hectare. Second, Polly is now available with a fully autonomous base. Growers simply position the robot in the first row at the start of the day, and Polly takes care of pollination throughout the day without any further intervention.”

For more information, visit Biobest.com.