Meet Polly, the answer to your pollination challenges

Biobest today announces the market introduction of Polly, a pollination robot designed for tomato growers. The launch follows five years of close collaboration between Biobest and Arugga AI Farming, during which the technology was developed, refined and tested extensively in commercial greenhouses across Europe and North America.

“Arugga’s pollination robots are designed to work alongside bumblebees,” explains Jorden van de Walle, Product Manager for Pollination at Biobest. “They provide an additional layer of pollination security, helping maintain consistent pollination even when environmental conditions limit bumblebee activity. At the same time, they can enhance overall pollination performance, helping growers maximise their yield potential and improve profitability.”

Demonstrated yield improvements and product milestones

“Trials have consistently demonstrated yield improvements of 2–6%, while in most cases an increase of just 1.5% is enough to achieve a positive return on investment,” explains Jorden.

“Over the past year, we have also achieved two major milestones that give us full confidence in Polly’s readiness for commercial launch,” says Jorden. “First, we have significantly increased the robot’s operating speed, meaning that just one Polly robot is now sufficient to cover one hectare. Second, Polly is now available with a fully autonomous base. Growers simply position the robot in the first row at the start of the day, and Polly takes care of pollination throughout the day without any further intervention.”

Supporting bumblebee pollination in challenging conditions

Tomatoes are self-pollinating, meaning that each flower contains both pollen-bearing anthers and a female stigma. Using advanced cameras and intelligent image recognition, Polly analyses individual flowers to identify those ready for pollination. It then delivers precisely controlled bursts of air to stimulate pollen release and maximise fruit set.

Bumblebees are highly effective pollinators, but certain environmental conditions can limit their activity and affect pollination performance. “In winter, shorter days, lower light levels, supplementary LED lighting and the use of energy-saving thermal screens can all reduce their pollination efficiency and yield,” explains Jorden. “In summer, temperatures above 35°C can also negatively affect bumblebee activity and pollination performance.”

This is where Polly makes a difference. During the darkest winter days and hottest summer months, the robot continues pollinating, day in and day out. “By supporting pollination during challenging periods, Polly helps to minimise fluctuations in pollination rates. This gives growers peace of mind and supports higher yields. For high-tech tomato growers seeking to maximise every percentage point of yield and profitability, Polly provides a valuable complement to bumblebee pollination. It also offers an effective solution for tomato production systems without bumblebees,” says Jorden.

Flexible leasing and purchase options for growers

Arugga’s Polly pollination robots are available through Biobest under a 12-month leasing agreement, which includes full warranty, maintenance, technical support and replacement parts. Alternatively, growers can purchase the robots outright with a comprehensive five-year warranty, followed by the option to extend warranty coverage or switch to a remote support package.

To find out more about Polly pollination robots, contact your Biobest advisor or visit Polly Pollination Robot for Tomatoes | Biobest.