AI Proves the Potential of Autonomous Farming – Ljusgårda Presents Results from a Swedish Government-Funded Project

When AI Listens to Plants – A Step Closer to the Future of Farming

Ljusgårda sees great opportunities to improve and advance next-generation cultivation methods using AI and advanced sensor technology. During a year-long development project, we worked to create a system in which plants’ own biological signals  automatically control the growing environment.

The project has enabled Ljusgårda to test technologies from leading tech providers – with the aim of driving the entire AgTech industry forward. The project has enabled close collaboration between leading technology providers and growers – with the goal of driving the entire AgTech industry forward. Together with Swiss biotech partner Vivent BioSignals, Ljusgårda sucessfully read the biological signals directly from the plants. Their groundbreaking sensor technology made it possible to measure the plant status in real time, which in turn enabled dynamic adjustments to the growing environment based on the plants’ actual needs.

In combination with camera technology from Gardin, which collected extensive data on growth, light, and irrigation, our proprietary algorithms analyzed the information and generated optimization recommendations – fully plant-driven.

The Result: Proven Sustainability and Scalability

The project clearly demonstrates that the technology works: we achieved a 34 percent increase in yield. With more time and larger datasets, the potential is even greater – with the ultimate goal of fully automating environmental adjustments in our growing systems based on the plants' own signals.

The project also proves that the solution is scalable and lays the foundation for continued AI development and the sustainable, autonomous food systems of the future.

“This project showed that our hypotheses were correct. By linking real-time feedback from the plants to our control systems, we can develop even more efficient ecosystems. It shows how powerful it becomes when advanced technology interacts with the biological signals of the plants, and it gives us strong insights to build the next generation of artificial ecosystems.”
– Erik Lundgren, CRO, Ljusgårda

“The support from Vinnova has made it possible for us to take an important step forward. Through this project, we have shown that the future of farming is already here. It not only strengthens our own development but also enhances the entire industry’s ability to think bigger.”
– Julia Ragnell, Project Manager, Business Developer at Ljusgårda

About Ljusgårda

Ljusgårda grows lettuce in Sweden with a clear conscience – all year round. With AI-optimized indoor ecosystems and under the consumer brand Supernormal Greens, we deliver fresh lettuce with minimal environmental impact and completely free from pesticides. We are currently Sweden’s largest vertical farm and one of the leading actors in Europe.