Key Takeaways
- Arugga AI Farming introduces its first plant lowering robot for tomato and cucumber crops
- The autonomous unit, nicknamed “Louie,” can handle 300 plants per hour and two robots cover one hectare
- Deployments confirmed with growers in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France
- Live demonstrations of Louie scheduled during GreenTech Amsterdam 2025
- The robot is a finalist in the GreenTech 2025 Innovation Concept Award
Arugga AI Farming Expands European Footprint with Robotic Plant Lowering
Arugga AI Farming has announced the commercial launch of its new autonomous plant lowering robot for greenhouse-grown tomatoes and cucumbers. The innovation, internally nicknamed Louie, is being introduced to European growers in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. It is the latest development from the Israel-based company, previously recognized for its automated pollination technology.
The robot is designed to perform one of greenhouse horticulture’s most labor-intensive tasks—plant lowering—with both precision and care. It can manage up to 300 plants per hour and can gently rotate and support plants weighing up to 10 kilograms. According to Arugga AI Farming, two Louie units can efficiently cover a one-hectare greenhouse, helping ensure consistent plant growth and reducing manual labor.
Arugga AI Farming Demonstrates Louie at GreenTech 2025
Arugga AI Farming will present Louie at the upcoming GreenTech Amsterdam 2025, where the robot has also been named a finalist for the Innovation Concept Award. Growers and attendees will be able to watch the robot in action during live demonstrations scheduled for June 12 and 13. Registration for the demonstration is available through the company’s website.
CEO Iddo Geltner described the launch as a “big achievement after a couple of years of hard work by our R&D team.” The company’s European partners, including Lans and Harvest House, are preparing for full deployment.
European Growers Partner with Arugga AI Farming
Lans Greenhouse, based in the Netherlands, was among the first to trial the robot. Erwin van der Lans, Operational Director at Lans, reported “high levels of reliability and improved speed” following last year’s testing at their Dinteloord facility. Four additional units are now set for deployment.
Silvia Janssen-Voorbij, Head of R&D at Harvest House, emphasized the importance of automation for competitiveness: “This promising solution helps address challenging labor shortages. Automation in greenhouses is critical to remain competitive.”
Broadens Automation Portfolio
The release of the plant lowering robot marks another milestone for Arugga AI Farming as it continues developing autonomous tools for controlled environment agriculture. Eytan Heller, VP of Business Development, noted, “Following the success of our automated pollination robots, launching the first autonomous plant lowering robot is a significant milestone.”
