Westfalia Fruit, one of the world’s largest avocado growers and distributors, is planting the seeds of a technological revolution in agriculture.
Operating across 17 countries, the company is embracing innovation to evolve fruit production and distribution while staying true to its roots in sustainability and organic farming.
From spreadsheets to smart orchards
Two decades ago, Westfalia relied primarily on spreadsheets. Today, under the leadership of Andre Oosthuisen, Group Integration and IT Executive, the company has transformed its operations with a comprehensive technological approach spanning from “farm to fork.”
“Technology has become endemic in the modern fruit business of today,” Andre explains.
With climate challenges being an issue, Westfalia has implemented smart solutions in its orchards. Sensors precisely monitor growing conditions, optimising irrigation and fertilisation.
Low-flow drip irrigation systems reduce water usage by 40-50% while improving plant health and yield. This tech-savvy approach not only conserves precious resources but also ensures optimal fruit quality.
“We can now track the amount of moisture in the orchards, and can use low flow drip irrigation, where we actually drop the water straight into the root structure of the tree,” Andre says. “This way we use substantially less water, 40 to 50% less water.”
Equally, the company is soaring to new heights with emerging technologies. Drones equipped with AI capabilities are now used for fruit forecasting and counting, providing accurate yield predictions and optimising harvest timing.
From tree to table
Westfalia’s commitment to quality doesn’t stop at the orchard. Advanced tracking systems monitor fruit from harvest to consumer, allowing real-time adjustments to ensure premium quality and minimise waste.
Automated sorting and grading systems further guarantee consistency across all products.
This is all made possible thanks to their Robotic Process Automation (RPA), which streamlines administrative tasks, from invoice processing to inventory management, allowing human talent to focus on more complex challenges.
Fruitful alliances
Westfalia’s technological leap is supported by key strategic alliances, particularly with Aptean Food & Beverage ERP software.
“Everything from Aptean’s food and beverage ERP platform is being rolled out to every part of the business across the group to capitalise on the benefits that those products provide,” says Andre.
This specialised system provides the digital infrastructure to manage the unique challenges of the fruit industry, from tracking perishable inventory to navigating complex international supply chains.
Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their original owners.
Comments are closed.