Improving efficiency of commercial wild blueberry harvester using precision agriculture technologies

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The overall objective of the proposed initiative is to develop an automated integrated harvesting system. The system will identify the sources of harvest losses in order to improve berry picking efficiency of the existing wild blueberry harvester. The current commercial wild blueberry harvester experiences 15 to 25% yield loss. By increasing harvesting efficiency of harvester the socio-economic benefit to the Atlantic provinces and Quebec would be substantial as the wild blueberry industry is a major contributor in these regions. Reliable harvesting technologies over the long term should assist with continued industry expansion leading to increased employment opportunities in the production and manufacturing processing sectors. The proposed research will train highly qualified personnel (graduate and undergraduate student and postdoctoral fellow) and the continuing "life long" applied education of producers and industry representatives.