Great Lakes Tek Flex highlights robotics, precision ag tech for specialty crop growers

The inaugural Great Lakes Tek Flex will take place Sept. 10-11 at the Michigan State University Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

The two-day event will focus on labor-saving and precision agriculture technologies for specialty crop growers in the Great Lakes region, including vegetable, vineyard, nursery and orchard operations. Demonstrations and discussions will center on robotics, drones and crop management technologies.

The first day will feature field demonstrations of commercially available technologies, allowing growers to see equipment in operation and speak with company representatives. Technologies expected to be demonstrated include autonomous vehicles, “See and Spray” systems, AI perception tools, orchard management equipment, planting systems, vegetation management tools, harvesting technology, drone spraying and AI-based decision support systems.

The second day will focus on discussions about technology adoption, including conversations with government agencies, industry groups and supporting industries about challenges and resources related to implementing new technology on farms.

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Organizers said the event’s goal is to help improve sustainability and resiliency for specialty crop growers by addressing barriers to technology adoption.

Supporting organizations and sponsors include Michigan State University Extension, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Michigan Vegetable Council, Michigan Grape Growers, Michigan Hort Society, The Ohio State University, Cornell University and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, among others.

Demonstrator and sponsor registration is open through Aug. 1. Public registration is expected to open in early June.

“This event is the first of its kind in North America, right here in the Great Lakes region,” said Mike Reinke, MSU viticulture extension specialist and GL Tek Flex board member. “Growers and agronomists are going to find ag-tech manufacturers demonstrating their technology and connecting with potential end users.”

More information is available at www.gltekflex.org.