Project Duration: 24 Months September 2023 to August 2025. Project Partners: UK ATC, AgriSound,...
Global fruit producer Dole UK has partnered with agri-tech innovator AgriSound to launch a UK-based pilot study focused on pollination and fruit production.
Project Duration:
The pilot runs from April to October 2025.
Project Location:
Kent, UK
Objective:
To assess how advanced growing materials—specifically SecondSky thermal reduction polytunnel covers from IYRIS—affect pollinator activity and ultimately impact fruit yield and quality.
Technology:
AgriSound’s Polly™ sensors are being used to capture real-time pollinator data (with a focus on bumblebee activity) under different tunnel conditions. The study will specifically investigate the impact of IYRIS (a leading global producer of adaptive agri-climate products) SecondSky thermal reduction polytunnel covers on tunnel microclimates and bumblebee activity, comparing them to industry-standard materials.
Significance:
🐝 Provides insights into the ecological and commercial impacts of farming innovations.
🐝 Bridges the gap between on-farm trials and large-scale agricultural deployment.
🐝 Supports smarter R&D for improved yield, sustainability, and ecosystem protection.
Industry Context:
This project aligns with a broader trend of increased investment in agri R&D in the UK, with over £800 million spent between 2021–2022.
Impact Goals:
🐝 Quantify the impact of new growing materials on pollination.
🐝 Validate sustainable innovations before large-scale implementation.
🐝 Enhance Dole’s ability to make data-driven, environmentally conscious decisions in fruit production.
