An autonomous robot using ultraviolet light to combat fungi has achieved 25% greater efficacy than organic fungicides in a zucchini crop trial. The robot's capability was tested within the framework of AgrifoodTEF, a European network funded by the European Commission and the Ministry of Agriculture, which facilitates agro-food companies' access to infrastructure and services for testing innovative solutions in real environments. The initiative was announced at a recent breakfast event organized by Agrotecnio, Parc Agrobiotech Lleida, and the Diputació de Lleida.
The validated technology is a solution developed by the company Agrikola.AI to control fungal diseases using C-type ultraviolet (UVC) light, without applying chemical fungicides. The solution combines the autonomous Wagus UVC robots, which perform field treatments, with Nimbus, a cloud-based platform for planning and supervision.
In a trial on a zucchini crop, conducted under the scientific supervision of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), the device registered a 25% higher efficacy than organic fungicide treatments. According to Fran García, professor and researcher at EEABB-UPC, the results demonstrated UVC radiation's capacity to control fungal diseases, to the extent that all zucchini reached commercial maturity without showing symptoms.
Tests have also been conducted on lettuce and onion crops in the Llobregat delta, Maresme, and Lleida. According to Ricard Pardell, CEO and founder of Agrikola.AI, the trial results in these crops showed efficacy comparable to that of conventional and organic treatments used as a reference.
Through Nimbus, farmers can define plots, crops, and agricultural activities. The system incorporates cameras and sensors that collect data on crops and environmental conditions, automatically generating commands for the robots. Pardell presented calculations indicating potential cost savings in phytosanitary treatments of up to 77% for zucchini and up to 73% for lettuce with full system automation.
AgrifoodTEF is a European network of testing and experimentation facilities that provides companies with access to specialized services for evaluating and validating solutions based on artificial intelligence and robotics. The goal is to verify the performance of these technologies in real environments and facilitate their transition from advanced development stages to market application. The initiative involves 37 entities from ten European countries and has a budget of 60 million euros for the 2023-2027 period.
Roberto García, professor at UdL and AgrifoodTEF representative in Spain, explained that the services are primarily aimed at companies developing technologies for the agri-food sector that need to verify their functionality before commercialization. Small and medium-sized enterprises can benefit from discounts of up to 100% on validation service costs.
In Spain, AgrifoodTEF comprises nine partners distributed across three geographical areas. The northeastern area includes the Universitat de Lleida, Agrotecnio, Centre d’Estudis Porcins, and Parc Agrobiotech Lleida, with a focus on the pig and fruit sectors.
The BreakfastforInno cycle will hold its final 2026 session on December 10th, dedicated to aromatic and medicinal plants. AgrifoodTEF is co-financed by the European Union's 'Digital Europe' program.
