UK: New algorithm for predicting vining pea yields in development

The new project ‘PeaSat’, a collaboration with ADAS and pea grower cooperative HMC Peas, will utilise satellite imagery to develop a vining pea yield predicting algorithm for growers. For vining pea growers and processors, the task of harvesting peas at the correct maturity and transporting to factory as quickly as possible is logistically challenging at best. With no way to provide accurate early forecasts of yield, growers and processors often struggle to coordinate throughout the harvesting period. This results in reduced efficiency and a greater risk of bypass and crop abandonment. The new ‘PeaSat’ project builds on previous research which uncovered strong correlations between vining pea flowering and final yield. With satellite imagery found to be the most efficient way of measuring these correlations, remote sensing specialists at ADAS will examine if satellite data taken at flowering could be used to accurately predict final pea yield. Researchers hope the resulting ...