The AI helps optimize and automate the production of winter strawberries.

A team from the University of Montreal’s Department of Computer Science and Operations Research is devising an AI-based system to automate control decisions in Winter Farm’s controlled-environment vertical strawberry farm in Vaudreuil. (udemnouvelles)

Professor Houari Sahraoui, an expert on software modeling and AI, Professor Eugene Syriani, a expert on computer system modeling and simulation, and Istvan David, a postdoctoral researcher specializing in multi-paradigm modeling and cyber-biophysical systems, make up the team deploying AI at the Winter Farms vertical farm.

The farm, which was set up and became operational within a space of less than two years, is on track to produce more than 180,000 kgs of strawberries later this year. But the farm has set its sights higher: by 2025 it is aiming to produce more than 13 million kgs, and replace 10% of Canada’s strawberry imports.

Winter Farms:Digital shadow

The AI researchers have a unique objective. They are looking to create a digital duplicate of the farm that will allow simulation of the farm as closely as possible.

“Our team is modeling all aspects of the plants’ growth to create a digital shadow—that is, a digital version that mirrors the behaviour of the physical farm as closely as possible,” Sahraoui explained. “The only aspect we don’t model is pollination because the bumblebees in the indoor farm take care of that.”

These simulation exercises would tell the scientists within minutes the result of a change induced in the conditions at the farm.

For example, how would plant growth be affected if the light intensity in the production unit were turned up at 6 a.m. instead of 8 a.m.?

The shadowy digital agronomist at Winter Farm would evolve into a “digital twin,” which could ultimately run the farm autonomously and in real time.

 “Given that we can’t control nature, this project gives us an exciting opportunity to work in a controlled environment independently of the seasons,” said Syriani.

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Image credit: Winter Farm