Poeldijk (Netherlands) – The future of tomato harvesting is here. Artemy, the advanced harvesting robot developed by DENSO Corporation and Certhon, is now actively operating in a commercial greenhouse of 8 hectares at The Valley, cultivating both mini cherry and cocktail tomatoes on the vine. This marks a crucial milestone in solving labor shortages in greenhouse horticulture while enhancing efficiency and productivity.
Together with The Valley Growers, part of Growers United, we’ve piloted the autonomous harvesting robot Artemy in their tomato greenhouses. Joost van der Voort, grower at The Valley, shares his experiences with this innovative technology, developed by Certhon in collaboration with DENSO. At the start of the pilot, both the grower and Artemy had to adapt. “In the beginning, it took some getting used to, both for Artemy and us. But I am truly impressed by how quickly the machine has evolved”.
A solution for the future
Labor costs are rising, which has significant consequences for Dutch greenhouse horticulture. “Looking to the future, I see labor is becoming more expensive. Profitability is declining, so we need to find ways to cut costs. Robotics is a very effective way to reduce labor expenses,” says Van der Voort. The Valley operates in a European market where the Netherlands faces high labor costs compared to neighbouring countries. “Here, labor costs can easily go over 26 euros per hour, while in Belgium, it’s much lower. But we serve the same customer, creating an uneven playing field. By innovating with robotics, we remain competitive.”
Artemy in practice
During the pilot, various logistical challenges were addressed, where Artemy’s flexibility and adaptability proved crucial. “A tomato is still a tomato, but the Japanese engineers had to make a few adjustments to ensure the Artemy functions optimally.” The pilot has showcased Artemy’s impressive potential. “I’m confident that with further refinement of the logistics, we can achieve significant reductions in labor costs. This is why we’re investing in this technology,” says Van der Voort. He highlights the rapid progress of Artemy’s development, adding: “It is a promising machine and I would say: keep an eye on it.”
Robotics as the future of the sector
Van der Voort sees robotics as an essential part of the future of greenhouse horticulture: “The future of greenhouse horticulture depends on robotics. In the future, we simply won’t be able to do without it.” He hopes more companies will become trailblazers in this field to drive the sector forward: “The more companies get involved, the faster we make progress.”
Optimising its performance
“Artemy brings together Certhon’s horticultural expertise and DENSO’s advanced robotics technology to address some of the biggest challenges in modern horticulture: labor availability, rising costs, and operational efficiency,” explains Mr. Mukai, DENSO’s executive officer in charge of its food value chain business. Certhon and DENSO are committed to further refining Artemy’s capabilities through grower partnerships and software advancements, ensuring the robot continues to meet evolving industry needs. By partnering with The Valley and engaging Growers United—one of the leading vegetable grower cooperations in the Netherlands—Certhon and DENSO seek to accelerate the adoption of Artemy worldwide. “With growers like Joost van der Voort providing valuable insights, we aim to expand Artemy’s reach and optimize its performance. In cooperation with The Valley, Artemy marks a key step toward scaling up the adoption of autonomous solutions, helping growers tackle today’s challenges and prepare for the future,” stated Mr. Mukai.
For more information visit: www.certhon.com
