Pollen LTD: maximizing seed production with data-driven cultivation

At Pollen LTD, a subsidiary of Syngenta, everything revolves around producing top-quality hybrid tomato seeds. Production takes place in semi-automated greenhouses and is carried out according to the strict GSPP standard. To ensure optimal growing conditions, the use of data plays a crucial role in their operations.

Data as the foundation for seed production

“Irrigation and climate control are the key to our tomato hybrid seed production,” says Emmanuel Masiku, Product Manager at Pollen LTD. “Real-time data enables us to make informed decisions instantly, which is essential for data-driven cultivation.”

Using climate data provides Pollen LTD with valuable insights into how environmental factors affect seed quality and yield. By analyzing data from the climate computer, trends can be identified that help in making strategic decisions, such as adjusting irrigation schedules or optimizing climate settings to prevent plant stress.

The role of LetsGrow.com

While real-time data is essential, Pollen LTD encountered challenges when working with limited datasets. LetsGrow.com provided a solution by offering insights into climate parameters that are not visible to the naked eye. “The insights from LetsGrow.com go beyond what we could observe ourselves. This helps us make real-time decisions and prevent negative impacts on the crops,” explains Jean Guy Cobbaert, Field Production Manager East Africa at Pollen LTD.

A specific example is monitoring plant temperature, greenhouse temperature, and VPD (Vapor Pressure Difference). This data has helped Pollen LTD detect plant stress signals in time and take appropriate measures, such as adjusting irrigation or optimizing ventilation.

Innovation and support

Pollen LTD emphasizes the importance of LetsGrow.com’s support in introducing new tools and features. “The support is crucial because it allows us to prevent mistakes and ensure our yield,” says Jean Guy. In particular, LetsGrow.com’s Data-Driven Growing training is seen as a valuable tool for further developing the team. This training provides modern insights that help Pollen LTD tackle challenges and maximize seed production.

Looking ahead

Pollen LTD sees plenty of opportunities to further deepen its collaboration with LetsGrow.com. Innovations such as measuring stomatal conductance and leaf thickness are on their wish list, along with follow-up training sessions to keep the team up to date in a rapidly changing agricultural world. “Thanks to our collaboration with LetsGrow.com and their data-driven approach, we have not only been able to optimize our current processes but are also better prepared for future challenges and opportunities,” concludes Emmanuel.