Ai-powered robotic fertigation optimization platform for tomato greenhouses

Overview

Vertum Technologies has developed DIO, a robotic farming assistant designed to optimize fertigation and crop management in tomato greenhouses and other indoor farming environments. The platform combines a robotic manipulator with soil sensors and AI-powered image analysis to deliver real-time insights on soil chemistry and plant health. By turning these insights into actionable fertigation recommendations, DIO helps growers reduce crop loss, minimize input waste, and increase revenue by more than 25%. The system is already in commercial use with Vertigo Farms in Poland and is being expanded to additional greenhouse and vertical farm operators.

Technical specifications

Core capabilities:

• A robotic platform with a manipulator arm reaches soil zones to collect real-time chemical data including moisture, acidity (pH), and NPK levels
• Camera attachment captures plant imagery processed by AI models to detect health issues and diseases
• Recommendation engine translates sensor and image data into fertigation and crop management guidance
• Designed for greenhouse and indoor farm environments growing tomatoes, basil, coriander, thyme, and similar crops
• Supports both soil-based and vertical farming configurations

Validated outcomes:

• Outdoor farm soil testing across 17 farms showed strong demand, with 15 of 17 farms expressing interest in becoming customers
• Indoor deployment at Vertigo Farms demonstrated revenue increases exceeding 25% through optimized fertigation and reduced crop loss
• Pipeline includes 12+ pilot requests and a planned multi-site rollout with Sigma Alimentos tomato greenhouses

Technology readiness level

DIO is commercially deployed with a paying customer (Vertigo Farms) and is actively generating case study data. Randomized controlled trials are underway at Vertigo Farms covering basil fertigation optimization and gray mold crop loss reduction. Additional pilots and RCTs are planned across multiple tomato greenhouse sites operated by Sigma Alimentos, a multinational food company. With one paying customer and a growing pipeline of pilot engagements, the platform is at a late-stage readiness level suitable for broader commercial scaling.