USE CASES
Improving Agricultural Yields
The Problem
To sustain the “American Diet,” 1.2 acres of farmland are needed per person annually. Despite having 7.2 million acres of farmland and ranking second nationally in greenhouse vegetable production, New York faces significant food insecurity. Key challenges include
- High energy costs and infrastructure demands for greenhouse operations.
- The complexity of managing 29–35 variables that affect greenhouse yields, compounded by unpredictable weather.
- Limited profitability, which deters investment in underserved areas.
The Impact
In collaboration with Lansing Farm and Greenhouses in Lansing, NY, NYS Mesonet at UAlbany, and UAlbany’s Center of Excellence in Weather & Climate, Nowigence shall develop a near real-time optimization system to maximize greenhouse yields while reducing energy consumption. The outcomes will:
- Improve access to fresh produce for all New Yorkers, including underserved inner cities, rural communities, and Indigenous lands.
- Strengthen the economic resilience of New York farmers.
- Increase New York State’s GDP through higher agricultural output.
The Solution
Nowigence’s ResearchWork.ai system integrates data from greenhouse sensors and NYS Mesonet weather stations to provide actionable insights. By predicting how external weather1 impacts internal greenhouse conditions, the system optimizes control settings to
- Boost crop yield per unit of energy consumed.
- Lower operational costs and increase profitability.
- Make greenhouse farming more viable across diverse regions, including underserved areas.
This innovative approach will redefine food production in New York, ensuring sustainability, profitability and equity.
