© Fogelina Cuperus

Robotic Intercropping

A research project funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation to co-develop intercropping cash and service crops with robotics.

Our Vision

Imagine a world where food production harmonises with natural processes, farmers nurture healthy soils, and biodiversity thrives. In contrast, current monoculture farming systems undermine this future with its dependence on high nutrient and pesticide inputs and heavy machinery.  

The Robotic Intercropping project introduces intercropping strips of cash and service crops, where cash crops such as wheat, oilseed rape, and faba beans enhance resource use, while service crops like alfalfa improve biodiversity and soil health. 

We offer a transformative solution by integrating intercropping with lightweight, autonomous robots, enabling precise monitoring and management of resource competition. 

© Javiera Patricia Aravena Calvo

© René Havmand

Our Living Labs

We invite stakeholders and the public to come to our experimental fields in Taastrup and Wageningen that serve as Living Labs. Here we bring people together to co-design solutions and share insights.

Key Challenges

Complexity of management

Intercropping systems require more intricate management than monoculture due to the spatial and temporal interactions between crops. This includes challenges in sowing, weeding, and harvesting operations. 

Resource competition

Cash and service crops compete for the same essential resources: light, water, and nutrients. Balancing this competition to ensure the productivity of cash crops while benefiting from the ecosystem services of service crops is a critical challenge.

Technological limitations

Current machinery and tools are not suited to the precise and flexible requirements of intercropping. Research and innovations in sensing, robotics and automation are necessary to address these limitations.

Ecological trade-offs

Although intercropping offers benefits like weed suppression and reduced nitrate leaching, managing these systems to optimize both ecological services and crop yields remains difficult.

© Dirk van Apeldoorn

OSR clover

© Dirk van Apeldoorn

2018-06-18 10.21.22

© Dirk van Apeldoorn

Research Areas

Robotic Intercropping integrates five interconnected areas to address the research gaps and objectives

News and Events

Events and Meetings

Project Start Meeting 19th August 2025 in Taastrup

Project Start Meeting 19th August 2025 in Taastrup The Robotic Intercropping core team met on the 19th August 2025 in Taastrup. The meeting...

Read More

Press

Press Release

Press Release Read about the Robotic Intercropping project in the press releases of the project partners. University of Copenhagen English:...

Read More
Visited 556 times, 4 visit(s) today