Page 15 - Landscape-Issue153

FEATURE

HOW GROWERS CAN EXPERIMENT

WITH AI TO SUPPORT THEIR BUSINESSES

By Rachel Wakefield

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a concept reserved for tech firms or computer

labs. It is increasingly part of everyday operations for horticultural and nursery
businesses worldwide.

or growers of ornamental plants and
flowers, including those committed
Fto organic and sustainable methods,
AI is emerging as a practical companion.
Horticulture is entering an era where digital
tools are not only enhancing efficiency but
also changing the way producers think,
plan and connect.

Curiosity over complexity
In a recent webinar of the International
Association of Horticultural Producers
(AIPH), presenter Rob Miller of the Global AI
Leaders Network, gave a simple message:
“Don’t wait to be an expert. Just start.”
AI isn’t one thing – it’s an evolving
ecosystem of technologies. For some it
is a content assistant, drafting marketing
copy or summarising crop reports. For
others, it’s a decision-support system that
helps monitor pest risks or track logistics.
For those taking their first steps, AI is best
approached with curiosity, not caution.
Examples shared during the webinar
session made one thing clear: the most
powerful AI use cases often start as playful
experiments.
Space to explore
One of AI’s strengths is speed, evolving so
quickly that strategies drafted today may
be outdated in six months. That’s why
many businesses are beginning with small, and video generators. However in the longer experimentation. Play first, apply later.”
low-risk applications that generate insight term, AI’s greatest potential lies in custom
and confidence. Examples already in use applications such as analysing weather Begin now
include: and growth data to fine-tuning inputs, AI may feel like it’s moving too fast to keep
• generating social media content or forecasting transport delays or modelling up, but that’s precisely why standing still is
promotional materials; genetic traits for disease resistance. no longer an option. Whether you’re a small
• translating care guides and marketing Moving into this ‘builder’ stage requires family nursery or a large-scale producer,
into multiple languages; investment in data quality, technical skills, the most important thing you can do is to
• automating repetitive admin tasks such and clarity about the problems to be begin. Try a tool. Ask a question. As Miller
as documentation or scheduling; solved. It’s a step-by-step journey and not put it to the webinar audience: “This is the
• profiling customers and predicting one that every grower will need or want to start of a journey, just like the internet was
seasonal demand; take immediately, but it’s coming. in the 1990s. We don’t yet know what shape
• monitoring plant health using sensor or Like any new tool, AI comes with AI will take, but growers who are curious
image data. quirks and errors, formatting hiccups now will be the ones best positioned to
In one case, Miller demonstrated how and unpredictable outputs are common, shape what comes next.”
an organisation had reduced 18 days of especially in creative tasks. Miller
monthly reporting to two hours by using emphasises that AI today is like a two or About the author
an AI writing assistant, with a human editor three-year old child – brilliant in some Rachel Wakefield is the associate editor of
performing the final checks. places, unreliable in others and always Floraculture International magazine. This
learning. “That’s why having a human is an edited version of her article from the
From user to builder in the loop remains essential, especially June 2025 issue, and is published with her
For now, most businesses remain in the when it comes to data privacy, brand permission.
consumer stage, relying on widely available voice and regulatory content. The key is
platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini or image to accept the imperfections and lean into www.floracultureinternational.com n

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