11/7/2023: VMware Edge Network Intelligence is now VMware Edge Intelligence! Announced at VMware Explore Barcelona, Intelligent Assist for VMware Software-Defined Edge will bring VMware Edge Intelligence together with generative AI to provide intelligent remediation and security for both OT and IT environments. Read our blog post to learn more.
Technology has become a crucial element in every industry, including agriculture. One company that sets an excellent example of this is Nature Fresh Farms, an innovative organization that uses advanced technology to grow greenhouse produce. The company successfully adopted VMware SD-Access™, VMware SD-WAN™ and VMware Edge Network Intelligence™ for secure connectivity and AIOps across their locations. This integration uses AI and edge computing to optimize data processing and monitoring at the edge.
Founded in 1999, Nature Fresh Farms operates in both Leamington, Ontario, Canada, and the United States. The company has over 200 employees and cultivates a wide variety of crops, including tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and strawberries, across more than 250 greenhouse acres.
In processing the massive flow of data generated by their plants—each plant produces approximately 25 GB per month—Nature Fresh Farms has benefitted from VMware SD-WAN, VMware SD-Access, and VMware Edge Network Intelligence. These systems transfer data from the edge to the core for processing. A significant 12 GB of data is sent to the core while the rest is processed at the edge.
A seamless and intelligent experience, no matter the location
For a company operating over a vast geographical area, VMware SD-WAN offers seamless connectivity that would be challenging to achieve with traditional terrestrial networks. Particularly in rural areas, the solution’s LTE 5G option provides flexibility and ensures reliable connectivity.
“Our goal was to make all our locations feel like they’re right next door to each other, whether they are in Ohio or Canada. The speed and ease of use of VMware SD-WAN is really helping us accomplish that goal.”
Keith Bradley, Vice President of IT & Security, Nature Fresh Farms
The implementation of VMware SD-Access has enabled Nature Fresh Farms to connect their extensive network of greenhouses securely and efficiently, making every location feel as if it’s nearby. This solution has also facilitated secure remote access for growers, enabling them to view near real-time data.
With nearly 200,000 sensors installed throughout their greenhouses to monitor different aspects of plant growth, Nature Fresh Farms applies AI systems to analyze the data and aid in the production of top-quality produce. VMware Edge Network Intelligence plays a vital role here, addressing latency issues and pre-emptively resolving network problems that might impact plant production.
VMware SD-Access for secure connectivity without a VPN
As technology continues to evolve, the partnership between Nature Fresh Farms and VMware is also set to strengthen further. From installation on a 5G-enabled scouting robot that monitors fruit and color of each pepper plant to being deployed across numerous workstations for enhanced connectivity, VMware SD-Access is proving its worth at every step.
Speaking about the ease of use and speedy setup of VMware SD-Access, Keith Bradley, Vice President of IT & Security, Nature Fresh Farms noted that “I haven’t found anything that’s this secure and this simplified right now. I’ve seen other simple solutions, but I’ve never seen enough security that allows me to have the confidence that it’s safe to use.”
“Installation on the 5G robot was simple and easy. VMware SD-Access started to flow data right back to our data center without a problem. The data started to move quicker, and we saw a lot less latency between the robot and the cloud. It didn’t need a VPN connection or its own SD-WAN hardware appliance.”
Keith Bradley, Vice President of IT & Security, Nature Fresh Farms
VMware SD-Access plays a crucial role in Nature Fresh Farms’ mobile Greenhouse Education Center. This allows them to showcase innovative growing methods and AI-enabled systems that adjust factors like lighting and irrigation. Thanks to VMware SD-Access, data flows quickly, effectively demonstrating the potential of AI capabilities.
VMware solutions for connectivity and AI at Nature Fresh Farms have revolutionized the company’s greenhouse growing methods. With improved data processing, connectivity, and security, this technology has led to superior plant production and consistently high-quality produce. The partnership between Nature Fresh Farms and VMware shows a promising future for agriculture, where technology and sustainability thrive hand in hand.
