Revol Greens adds artificial intelligence technology to lettuce greenhouses

Austin, Texas-based greenhouse lettuce grower Revol Greens is working with Dutch growing specialist Blue Radix to add artificial intelligence technology to all Revol's U.S.-based greenhouses, including climate control, irrigation and energy management services.

"We are excited to use Blue Radix's artificial intelligence tools to support our growers and optimize energy and climate control throughout our expanding network of greenhouse facilities" Mohammed Oufattole, Revol Greens chief technology officer, said in a news release. "With Blue Radix's Crop Controller, we are continuously collecting and processing live data and using it for decision automation in ways far more efficient than humanly possible, giving growers the tools they need to maximize crop productivity while controlling energy costs."

Revol Greens anticipates that adding artificial intelligence technology will help increase crop yield and reduce energy costs, ultimately furthering the company mission to grow lettuce and greens in a more sustainable way that is better for people and the planet.

Revol Greens and Blue Radix first started working together in April 2022, according to the release. The partnership will allow Revol Greens to control production more precisely across multiple farm locations in Minnesota, California, Georgia and Texas.

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"We are very proud to be working with Revol Greens, one of the most forward-thinking lettuce companies in the US," Ronald Hoek, CEO of Blue Radix, said in the release. "We're excited to see our Crop Controller algorithms in action to help them get the most out of each greenhouse and continue to scale their local greenhouses across the US." 

"Lettuce and greens are more complex to grow indoors than most appreciate, especially when operating in different geographies where each variety may require unique settings depending on the local outside weather conditions," Oufattole said in the release. "Using Crop Controller we're able to automate the climate decisions according to each lettuce variety and based on the facility's local climate profile, allowing our expert growers to make production forecasts with more precision and deliver high quality, more consistent crops."

Blue Radix's advanced AI technology will calculate the optimal greenhouse climate every five minutes using plant and climate sensors based on historical data and multiday weather forecasts, giving Revol Greens more control over temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide and required light levels in all its greenhouses, according to the release.

"By partnering with Blue Radix to adopt autonomous growing we predict the ability to significantly increase our production output while keeping our energy use and costs down," Revol Greens CEO Michael Wainscott said in the release. "Revol Green's ultimate goal is to make safe, sustainably grown greens accessible to all consumers. One of the ways we'll achieve this is by adopting the most advanced greenhouse technology and growing methods in the industry."

Blue Radix's technology is currently employed in Revol Greens' facility in Owatonna, Minn., and is on track for roll out in Tehachapi, Calif., Athens, Ga. and in its new facility in Temple, Texas.