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Validation of day-before yield forecast across three varieties each of strawberry and tomato.
Correlation between micro-climate and organ temperature of representative tomato clusters and using this relationship to forecast ripening speed.
Validation and fine-tuning of week-before yield forecast on three varieties each of tomato and strawberry.
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Validation of measurements (average fruit weight, average fruit dimensions, cluster count per row, ripening speed) on three varieties each of strawberry and tomato.
Development and validation of flower count per cluster, chlorosis, and leaf area index.
Proof of concept - autonomous drones for collection of measurements.
Project progress
Polybee has made good progress with their methodology achieving 80–90% accuracy in forecasting yields 1–3 days ahead of harvest. That success has laid the groundwork for extending predictions to a full seven-day window - a major step forward for harvest planning and supply chain coordination.
Polybee’s next objective is to take yield forecasting to the next level: accurately predicting tomato and strawberry production seven days in advance using advanced computer vision and AI. By sampling 10–20% of plant rows, the team captures a highly representative snapshot of crop performance. In tomato glasshouses, mobile cameras mounted on trolleys move through the rows, while in strawberry tunnels, drones provide a fast and efficient aerial view. These systems don’t just count fruit, they track subtle colour changes to model ripening speed in response to micro-climate conditions, turning visual data into actionable forecasts.
Working alongside research partner Flavorite, the team is focusing on crops harvested from October to April for tomatoes and November to May for strawberries. As of 29 October 2025, on-site systems are fully operational, enabling rapid data collection, calibration, and forecast processing within 24 hours during the first two months. From there, the 7-day forecast accuracy will be rigorously tested and refined through to the end of the harvest season, bringing greater predictability and confidence to fresh produce operations.
