AI Enters the Hydroponic Greenhouse

Ecobloom and New Growing System unite AI and hydroponics to boost yields, cut risk, and accelerate data-driven indoor farming

10 Feb 2026

Indoor farming is moving towards greater automation as Ecobloom and New Growing System form a partnership to embed artificial intelligence into hydroponic and aeroponic operations.

The collaboration will combine Ecobloom’s EcoSense™ crop monitoring platform with New Growing System’s controlled-environment infrastructure. The companies say the goal is to help growers detect plant stress earlier, adjust inputs more precisely and produce more consistent harvests in a sector where stable output underpins profitability.

Indoor farms already rely on sensors to measure light, temperature, humidity and nutrient levels. The new system is designed to go further. EcoSense™ analyses plant performance data in real time and generates recommendations on irrigation schedules, nutrient dosing and environmental settings. By shortening the gap between data collection and operational response, the partners aim to reduce crop losses and stabilise yields.

The timing reflects mounting financial pressure across controlled-environment agriculture. Energy and labour remain two of the largest operating costs, according to industry analyses. In that context, incremental gains in efficiency or output consistency can have a meaningful effect on margins, particularly for operators seeking to reassure investors after a period of uneven returns.

Initial pilot projects are scheduled for selected commercial farms in North America, where both companies have existing customers. These deployments will test performance improvements and compatibility with current facilities before any broader rollout.

The agreement also highlights a wider shift in indoor agriculture. As competition intensifies and funding becomes more selective, operators are favouring integrated systems that can scale and generate usable data. Digital tools are increasingly viewed as core infrastructure rather than optional upgrades.

Obstacles remain, including integration with legacy equipment, data governance and grower acceptance of automated decision support. The partners have not disclosed financial terms.

Industry participants say adoption will depend on whether AI systems can demonstrate clear gains in productivity without adding complexity. For now, the sector appears set on deeper integration between software and physical growing systems as it seeks more predictable returns.