fleet of weeding machines and that effort is ongoing. But Boyer is also very excited about the future and the ability to use robotics and AI to tackle other labor-intensive farming activities, such as harvesting the crop. He said the basic concept for harvesting is the same as weeding. A crop will be photographed and in real-time, a computer will be utilized to identify which head of lettuce should be picked or stalk of broccoli cut, and that information will be relayed to a robotic arm or hand. “I definitely see that on the horizon,” he said. “The technology exists. My bet is we will see that in the next three to five years.” Boyer said that being a member of WGCIT has been extremely useful in the evolution of FarmWise. “It was the entry point for farmers and service providers. It provided the link to the rest of the industry for us.” As the company has developed relationships with many different growers, he said they do not need to go through the center for introductions anymore, but they still utilize the staff and fellow residents for guidance.
Emerald Means Green
Emerald Packaging is the largest manufacturer of flexible packaging for produce in the country. Our commitment to sustainability extends from the products we o er to how we run our company, having earned California Green Business certification.
We proudly support the Western Grower’s legislative e orts, including defeating SB-54, the bag ban.
Learn more about our latest developments in sustainable packaging 510-429-5700 | empack.com
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NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2020
Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com
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