Innovation Board at Glade Groensager
Earlier this month, Odense Robotics hosted an inspiring Innovation Board at Glade Groensager, bringing together horticultural producers and robotics technology suppliers to explore the potential of automation in the sector. The day provided insights on how robotics can enhance efficiency, reduce manual labour, and overcome common production challenges in horticulture.
Exploring real-world automation applications in horticulture was the theme of the day, when producers and robotics tech suppliers gathered at Glade Groensager in Otterup. Here the event opened with a warm welcome from Jan Lund, Senior Innovation Manager at Food & Bio Cluster, and Marie-Louise Larsen, Innovation Manager at Odense Robotics.
After brief introductions, Martin Bøgeskov, Director of Glade Grønsager, presented an overview of the company, setting the stage for the upcoming insights. Participants were then given a tour of the facilities, offering a first-hand look at both manual and automated processes in action, highlighting the potential for robotics to revolutionise horticultural operations.
Bøgeskov led the tour through the greenhouse, explaining their current practices and identifying key areas where automation could drive greater productivity. The tour concluded in the packaging area, where the conversation shifted to the specific challenges of automating tasks such as sorting, packing, and internal logistics.
Inspiration for the future
Tech suppliers at the event emphasised that witnessing the horticultural production environment firsthand gave them a deeper understanding of the sector’s unique challenges. This perspective allowed them to offer valuable insights into how their robotic technologies could be adapted to meet the specific needs of greenhouses, addressing critical issues such as fluctuating production demands, varying crop types, and diverse growing environments. Their tailored solutions highlighted the potential for robotics to enhance efficiency and flexibility within the horticultural industry.
At the event, Marie-Louise Larsen and Torben Roll, COO at Nordic Greens, also led an engaging discussion focused on the overarching barriers to automation in horticulture, touching on key challenges. A discussion that highlighted lessons Nordic Greens had learned from previous automation projects.
Check out what the tech suppliers had to say about the event:
Networking and knowledge exchange
Participants also had ample time to network – and the event even offered one-on-one discussions between horticultural producers and tech suppliers.
Before the event, participants were encouraged to bring images and videos of their own facilities, enabling more focused and tailored discussions on how automation solutions could be applied to address their specific challenges. This approach allowed for a more personalised and practical exploration of potential automation strategies, making the discussions highly relevant and impactful.
The exchange of ideas and knowledge shared by the technology suppliers during the event sparked inspiration for future innovations. Both horticultural producers and technology suppliers left with valuable insights and a clearer understanding of how robotic solutions could be effectively implemented to streamline production processes, reduce costs, and optimise critical areas such as packaging lines.
This collaborative dialogue highlighted the transformative potential of robotics in enhancing efficiency and driving future growth in the horticultural sector.
Check out what the horticulture producers had to say about the event:
EDOcobot
The Innovation Board was part of the EDOcobot programme, which offers SMEs in horticulture and other industries opportunities for networking and inspiration on how to adopt collaborative robotic solutions. The programme focuses on sharing knowledge, practical examples, and insights from other companies to help businesses get started with robotics.
EDOcobot is co-financed by the European Union and the Danish Board of Business Development.
Questions about the event?
Contact Innovation Manager Marie-Louise Larsen at mtl@odenserobotics.dk