AgriSound: York firm launches new pilot with Dole to research fruit production
Yorkshire-based AgriSound has announced a new collaborative pilot-study, in partnership with global fruit producer Dole.
The York-based agri-tech firm specialises in pollination monitoring, using its specially designed listening devices to track pollinator numbers such as bees.
The new pilot-study project, launched in April at Dole’s Charlton site in Langley, Kent, is aiming to address how advanced growing materials influence pollinator activity and, ultimately, fruit production.
Dr Drew Reynolds, technical & sustainability director at Dole, said: “This project is not just about testing a new material, it’s about understanding the broader ecological and commercial impacts of farming innovations, especially in the fruit industry.
“By partnering with AgriSound for this pilot study, we can see the real-time influence of our decision-making when it comes to our standard practices and determine exactly how we can better protect the local ecosystems and pollinators.”
The study will specifically investigate the impact of IYRIS’s SecondSky thermal reduction polytunnel covers on tunnel microclimates and bumblebee activity, comparing them to industry-standard materials.
AgriSound’s Polly sensors will provide real-time pollinator activity data throughout the trial, allowing researchers to quantify the impact on pollination and its direct correlation to fruit yield and quality.
AgriSound said the project marks a “significant leap forward” in data-driven agricultural research.
The pilot-study will run through the current season and conclude in October 2025.