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The Wageningen University (WU) is developing digital twins for crops, specifically winter wheat and apples. These digital replicas simulate real-world crop behaviour, allowing WU to assess the impact of various farm management practices. By combining digital twins with advanced AI, WU provides tailored recommendations for optimised fertiliser and plant protection product applications. This innovative approach empowers farmers to make informed decisions, supporting sustainable and efficient crop production.
Progress and Readiness for DeploymentWU’s crop digital twin technology has reached a stage where it is ready for field testing and preliminary deployment in real-world environments. A recent achievement was the successful training of an AI system using reinforcement learning to generate automated nitrogen fertilisation policies that rival expert recommendations. To ensure alignment between digital twin simulations and real-world conditions, edge devices, such as tractor-mounted cameras, were integrated for enhanced crop monitoring—bringing the technology closer to deployment.
The digital twin technology will undergo field testing and evaluation at designated pilot sites during the 2024-2025 growing season. It will be deployed in an apple orchard to manage apple scabs and in winter wheat fields to support precise fertilisation, weed control, and disease prevention. Preliminary evaluation results are expected by fall 2025, marking a significant milestone in the project.
The digital twin operates as a cloud-based software solution, exchanging data with on-site edge devices to receive real-time measurements and deliver management instructions. This setup allows seamless integration with IoT sensors and farming equipment, supporting effective data collection and operational control. WU’s digital twin technology aims to reduce chemical usage and environmental impact, helping achieve the Smart Droplets project’s goals of sustainable crop management.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
