Can a robot look after a vegetable garden and work out what the plants need? That is the idea behind FarmBot, an automated system combining robotics, sensors and digital technologies to take care of a range of tasks on a small growing plot. 

The project was developed with the support of the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) at NOI Techpark, in collaboration with the South Tyrolean Hotel and Restaurant Association (HGV). Together with Santeshotel and Eurac Research, the team set out to test how the technology performs in a real-world environment. 

Eurac Research’s Sensor Systems & Data Lab equipped the FarmBot-system with additional sensors. These measure temperature, air and soil humidity, as well as solar radiation, generating data that could in future help determine the ideal time for harvesting. 

FarmBot is now being put to the test in the Santeshotel greenhouse, providing practical insights into how reliably the system works and how robotics and data could support more sustainable food production in the hospitality sector. 

Watch the video to find out more about the FarmBot project: