by John Fitzsimmons
The horticulture industry is always looking for ways to work smarter, and automation and efficiency have long played in a role in this process. This month’s GreenTech 2026 expo in Amsterdam showcases the horticultural world’s technological innovations. In this article, I share a summary of some of the leading technology on display at this event.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy David Khoury and Ian Turner
Maintaining expansive and diverse landscapes such as those at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan (ABGMA) is no small feat. Covering 416 hectares on Dharawal Country in south-west Sydney, the Garden balances the needs of natural woodland conservation, open lawns, curated plant displays and visitor infrastructure.… Continue reading
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Mechanical pruning at Harts Nursery has improved consistency, workflow efficiency and plant quality across large-scale production
By Jennifer McQueen
A task that once took two people a full day now takes one person five hours. That is the kind of change many nurseries are chasing, but not through large-scale automation or complex systems.… Continue reading
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A high health mother plant nursery at Ball Australia, Melbourne, with plants on fixed mesh tables and drip irrigation
By John Fitzsimmons
When updating an existing production site, or building a new one, an increasingly challenging environment needs to be considered. Greenhouses are therefore usually the option of first choice. But what are the emerging options for this path?
Greenhouses have long offered obvious benefits for commercial plant growers – a more suitable, stable and controllable growing environment for the crops in question.… Continue reading
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Manual labour looks ‘safe’ for the moment until AI generated efficiencies free up more investment in automation (Image: John Fitzsimmons - KonzeptVZ)
By John Fitzsimmons
Almost every time you commence work these days you will engage with AI, an increasingly familiar acronym for artificial intelligence. Some are hopeful that this powerful technology will improve their working lives, whilst others are concerned about the future of their jobs.… Continue reading
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Screenshot of a search for trees suitable for Canning Vale, a suburb of Perth, WA (Image: Supplied by author)
By Samantha Newton
Our cities are increasingly challenged by expanding human population and climate change. Resilient urban green spaces are recognised as critical for the development and sustainability of liveable cities for the future, providing a range of ecosystem services and benefits.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy John Fitzsimmons
Horticultural enterprises today have access to an increasingly broader and evolved range of equipment and technologies, which are still revealing themselves step by step. Much of the transformation in this space is occurring on-farm, with robots and artificial intelligence increasingly used to drive productivity.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy John Fitzsimmons
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics are real world considerations for horticulture these days. While there are several drivers of the trend where do we, as humans, sit in the considerations?
From a purely economic or business perspective the development and adoption of robotics is often considered a ‘no brainer’.… Continue reading
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In 2007 all company activities were combined in the revolutionary Priva Campus Building in De Lier, Netherlands
News edited by John Fitzsimmons
Dutch company Priva last month marked its 65th year of business with a list of major new products and technical developments at Green Tech 2024 in Amsterdam.
Priva was founded in 1959 by Jan Prins and his uncle Cor Valk as Valk en Prins to import heaters for greenhouses; heaters that were safer and cleaner to use than existing solutions.… Continue reading
Read MoreCompiled and edited by John Fitzsimmons
As Dutch startup Cubic Grow BV points out, horticulture is on the verge of a radical transformation with robotics, automation, and autonomous cultivation enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and optimising product quality. Often, it’s not about inventing the mousetrap but certainly about making a better one.… Continue reading
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