Data-driven spraying in orchards: reducing waste and preserving biodiversity

WUR and Munckhof have been working together for over ten years on research into orchard spraying, and more recently on precision fruit growing. Tom Verhaegh, Lead R&D Engineer and Technical Sales Specialist at Munckhof, explains:
“We regard our collaboration with WUR as extremely valuable. By combining the expertise of a technology company like Munckhof with WUR’s knowledge of crops and technologies, we are able to develop practical solutions that improve fruit growing both in the Netherlands and internationally.”

In autumn 2025, WUR researcher Pieter van Dalfsen worked with Munckhof on a project using LiDAR technology to map the contours of trees in an orchard with great precision. The research took place at WUR’s Fruit Research Centre in Randwijk, as well as in a commercial orchard.

LiDAR sensors were mounted on Munckhof sprayers, emitting pulses of light. Van Dalfsen explains: “When a light pulse hits leaves or branches, it is reflected back. The sensor measures the time between emission and return, allowing the distance to be calculated. Each measurement produces a 3D point. Together, these points form a point cloud that maps the contours of the trees and the orchard.”

Trees within an orchard often vary considerably in width and height due to differences in growth, and there may even be gaps in the rows. However, machines typically apply the same amount of spray at all heights, resulting in unnecessary waste. Munckhof had already been working with LiDAR technology capable of distinguishing between the presence and absence of foliage: when vegetation is detected, the nozzle opens and sprays at full capacity; when nothing is detected, it remains closed.

The aim of the recent project was to develop a more advanced system that follows the contour of each tree and applies a variable dose accordingly. Van Dalfsen explains:“In 2012, WUR had already developed a working prototype, but it was not yet sufficiently reliable. Since then, LiDAR technology has improved significantly, and faster-switching nozzles have been developed. This now enables us to measure more accurately and adjust the dosage in real time based on tree volume. As a result, spraying becomes both more cost-effective and more environmentally sustainable.”

WUR developed the measurement and calculation protocol. Van Dalfsen: “It starts with the individual data points measured by LiDAR. As the machine moves through the orchard, these are combined into a point cloud. This cloud then needs to be segmented per spray nozzle and along the direction of travel, after which calculations can be carried out. This raises questions such as: should we focus on volume, or is canopy width a suitable parameter? We develop calculation rules and test and validate them. We also investigate practical constraints, for example driving speed is important, as LiDAR can only operate effectively within certain limits.”

This pilot project brings together WUR expertise from multiple disciplines, including crop management, spraying technology, vision systems such as LiDAR, and algorithm development. Van Dalfsen explains: “By collaborating with WUR, SMEs gain access to the latest international scientific knowledge in these areas, as well as to our research facilities. This helps to facilitate and accelerate innovation.”

Verhaegh adds: “The collaboration with WUR is valuable to us, because the expertise of both individuals and organisations is used. Munckhof focuses on how solutions proposed by WUR can be integrated into machinery, while WUR assesses how Munckhof’s solutions can be applied in practice and ensures they are properly tested. This creates a genuinely two-way collaboration that strengthens both parties.”

Van Dalfsen continues: “In this pilot, we also used a WUR test platform equipped with LiDAR and linked to GPS. This meant Munckhof did not need to implement everything directly on their sprayers from the outset.”

WUR first developed a calculation framework and then worked with Munckhof engineers to integrate it into Munckhof’s software. Initial testing took place in Randwijk on small trial plots, followed by trials in a larger, continuous section of a commercial orchard. This allowed realistic field data to be collected.

A second component of the pilot project focused on using sprayers to collect data about the orchard. LiDAR sensors can provide growers with insights into areas of strong and weak growth. This is important because excessive growth can also be undesirable, Van Dalfsen explains: “If a tree grows too vigorously and produces many long shoots, it forms fewer flower buds and ultimately yields less fruit. Munckhof develops root-pruning machines that can curb growth and thereby increase fruit production. It is therefore important for growers to identify both weak and fast-growing areas within the orchard. This can be achieved using LiDAR sensors on sprayers linked to GPS.”

WUR and Munckhof are also collaborating on other projects, including the further development of an apple-picking robot and the use of GPS-linked cameras on harvesting machines, Van Dalfsen concludes: “This enables us to map very precisely how many apples are harvested in each part of the orchard and their size. In this way, growers can gain deeper insights into their orchards through data.”

“By working closely together with short lines of communication, you can quickly arrive at targeted, practical insights,” Verhaegh emphasises. “Our M-connect harvest registration system aligns perfectly with WUR’s data-driven approach, which in turn benefits fruit growers. Another example is our Vision Spray system, which targets only the trees that require treatment. We go even further by analysing each tree segment in detail and adjusting the dosage in real time. This leads to more efficient use of resources and provides growers with valuable insights from their orchards. At the same time, environmental impact is significantly reduced. These technologies are already being used by a range of fruit growers, where the savings are immediately noticeable without requiring complex operations. The accessibility of upgrading machinery is a key outcome of our collaboration with WUR,” Verhaegh concludes.