Automation in European Indoor Farming: Where Are We Now?

Automation is becoming increasingly relevant in European indoor farming. From robotic transplanters to AI-powered monitoring systems, automation technologies are being introduced to improve operational efficiency, consistency, and resource management. The 2025 Europe Indoor Farming Report, supported by Grow-tec, Würth Elektronik Group, and the AVF Summit powered by VertiFarm, offers a detailed overview of how controlled environment agriculture (CEA) operations across the region are incorporating automation, while also outlining key implementation challenges.

Readers can download the full report directly here.

Understanding the Automation Journey

The report builds its analysis around a framework adapted from the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), originally developed to classify levels of vehicle automation. OnePointOne first reinterpreted this model for vertical farming in a 2019 Agritecture article. The six levels from SAE range from Level 0 (No Automation) to Level 5 (Full Automation).

The OnePointOne classification system outlines six levels of vertical farming automation, beginning with fully manual operations (Level 1) and progressing to full system autonomy (Level 6). These levels represent a spectrum from basic support systems like automated lighting and climate control (Level 2), to intelligent machinery managing specific crop phases (Level 3), to adaptive systems capable of responding to real-time crop needs with minimal human input (Level 4). Levels 5 and 6 envision farms that self-operate and adjust production and logistics automatically, with no human intervention required beyond initial setup.

Across Europe, most greenhouses currently operate at Level 3, where basic mechanization is used to handle repetitive tasks—think conveyor belts, seeding machines, and environmental controls. However, many are now progressing to Level 4: Adaptive Automation. This level features integration of AI and robotics for dynamic functions like intralogistics, data-driven climate control, and even selective harvesting.

Vertical farms, by contrast, briefly aimed to jump directly to Level 5 during the 2019–2021 boom. Fueled by investment and optimism, some companies tried to implement fully autonomous systems. But the reality of high energy costs, complex system needs, and limited ROI led many to recalibrate toward more achievable and cost-effective Level 4 systems.

Early-Stage Innovations Gaining Ground

Europe's indoor farming automation landscape is marked by early-stage applications and pilot programs. Key examples highlighted in the report include:

• ABB’s robotic transplanters at Swedish farm Ljusgårda are enabling delicate and efficient transplanting operations.

• TTA ISO unveils its AI-powered tomato harvesting robot, Harvai®, developed in response to labor and food safety concerns

• Viscon launches its level 4 auto EVA Scoutr during Greentech, Combines robotics, AI vision, geolocation and real-time data. Detects pests and diseases as small as 0.012 mm.

• Certhon’s ARTEMY robot offers automated crop inspection and care, helping reduce labor needs while maintaining quality.

These innovations span multiple production stages, from seeding and substrate preparation to packaging and logistics. However, broad adoption is still limited by high upfront costs, interoperability concerns, and the availability of relatively low-cost labor in some regions.

Grow-tec’s Approach: Practical Automation for Fruiting Crops

In a dedicated contribution to the report, Shlomy Raziel, President of Grow-tec, shares his company's vision of automation grounded in operational practicality.

“Labor can account for around 40% of total project costs,” says Raziel. Grow-tec’s platform, which is tailored for crops like tomatoes and cucumbers, focuses on reducing this burden through modular automation. “In most cases, the return on investment is achieved within three to three and a half years.”

What sets Grow-tec apart is its flexible design. “Our solution is like a Lego set—customizable, scalable, and designed to retrofit existing greenhouses or industrial buildings,” Raziel explains. The platform integrates with equipment from various manufacturers, allowing operators to build upon their existing infrastructure.

Raziel also promotes the concept of “zero distance agriculture.” By positioning farms close to retail hubs, Grow-tec aims to shorten the supply chain, reduce transport emissions, and ensure that produce reaches consumers at peak freshness.

Importantly, Raziel cautions against the misconception that automation displaces human labor. “Automation doesn’t eliminate people—it transforms them into skilled operators,” he says. Grow-tec supports this transition with training programs, systems integration services, and ongoing technical support.

The Landscape for Automation Companies

The report also includes a landscape overview of companies working at various stages of automation in indoor farming, showcasing the diversity of players across seeding, nutrient delivery, crop handling, monitoring, and packaging. This visual map highlights both established technology providers and emerging startups involved in automation. It is not exhaustive but offers insight into the wide range of tools currently in development or deployment. These companies contribute to different aspects of the automation value chain, reflecting the modular and integrative approach many operators are adopting as they transition toward higher levels of automation.

Challenges Still Holding Back Full Automation

Despite visible progress, the report outlines several barriers to scaling automation more broadly:

• High capital expenditure: Costs remain a major barrier for small and mid-sized farms, especially in a post-COVID, post-energy crisis economy.

• Lack of regulatory clarity: Unclear standards around automation technologies and labor displacement slow decision-making.

• ROI uncertainty: Investors remain cautious following early vertical farming failures linked to unsustainable automation plans.

• Workforce readiness: Transitioning from manual to automated systems requires significant retraining and cultural adaptation within teams.

As a result, many operators are taking a phased approach—investing in automation for one or two processes rather than attempting full-system upgrades.

The Road Ahead For Automation In Europe

The 2025 Europe Indoor Farming Report concludes that adaptive automation—not full autonomy—is the more sustainable and realistic pathway for most operators today. Technologies are becoming more modular, interoperable, and cost-effective, but challenges persist.

Still, the direction is clear: whether through robotic harvesters, AI-powered climate control, or integrated logistics platforms, automation is set to play a central role in Europe’s indoor farming future.

📘 Read the Full Report
For a complete overview—including in-depth case studies, stakeholder insights, and the full automation landscape:

👉 Access the 2025 Europe Indoor Farming Report