Ag-tech: Using AI to predict potato vigour through microbiome analysis

A Dutch research team has developed an AI tool that can predict how well seed potatoes will grow into healthy potato plants. The team from Utrecht University, in collaboration with the Delft University of Technology, recently published their breakthrough study in Nature Microbiology. Developed in collaboration with plant breeders, the tool uses DNA data from bacteria and fungi found on seed potatoes and drone images of potato fields.

This research provides new insights into the complex interactions between microbial communities and plant growth, highlighting the potential of microbiome-based strategies to enhance crop performance and improve agricultural efficiency.