Grower FAQs

This FAQ pulls together the most common questions we get about Fotenix. If you have any questions that aren’t answered here, or would like to speak to a member of the team, please contact us at info@fotenix.tech.

How does Fotenix work? 

Fotenix uses 3D spectral imaging to assess the health of individual plants. Cameras and lights are installed directly inside the growing environment and scan crops at different wavelengths every 24 hours or so. Data from these scans is then used to create a ‘digital twin’ of the canopy, providing clear insight into where issues are and enabling growers to target interventions precisely. 

What's the advantage of a Fotenix-enabled farm? 

Fotenix scans crops under a range of different wavelengths. It can detect subtle changes in colour, structure, and light reflection that are indicative of stress, nutrient deficiencies, or disease; often identifying these issues long before they’re visible to the naked eye. 

What farming systems is Fotenix best suited to? 

Fotenix is suitable for almost all indoor growing environments, and is relied on by leading glasshouse growers and vertical farms throughout Europe. 

We’re currently developing additional use cases. If you have an outdoor system and are interested in helping to test Fotenix, please contact us. 

Is the Fotenix system only for vertical farms?

No, Fotenix is not limited to vertical farms. Our system is suitable for almost all indoor growing environments, and our customers include growers such as Angus Soft Fruits, LettUsGrow, and GrowUp. 

Does Fotenix operate throughout the day?

Fotenix scanners work at night. This prevents sunlight, glare, and shadows from interfering with our scans, and means we can capture signs of stress that might otherwise be masked during the day by photosynthesis. 

Does the system impact greenhouse operations?

Fotenix is designed to fit into your daily operations with minimal disruption. Our scanners can be mounted on rigs above trays, benches, or crop rows, and plants are scanned at night, reducing the impact on daytime operations. 

How much space does Fotenix need? 

Each unit within the Fotenix system has two lights and a camera, collectively weighing around 8.5kg. The entire system is designed to fit into existing infrastructure without taking up valuable growing space. Each unit is 2.4m x 0.6m, and in a typical installation, one unit will cover several trays, with additional systems added as necessary. 

How is Fotenix mounted?

The Fotenix system is fitted directly into the growing environment. Each unit combines a camera and lights that are mounted on a rig above the crop or fixed overhead in greenhouses. 

What infrastructure do I need to install Fotenix? 

Fotenix requires a stable mounting point above the crop, power for the cameras and lights, and a high-speed internet connection for data upload. In areas where the internet is unreliable or slow, we can supply the system with a dedicated router.

Does Fotenix use AI? 

Yes, Fotenix uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help interpret the data collected from our scanners. This information is used to create a digital twin – a digital replica of the crop that updates as conditions change, providing growers with a ‘real-time’ view of plant health and performance, and enabling them to target interventions precisely. 

What kind of data will I get?

Data collected by the Fotenix system is displayed visually in a dashboard. Growers can access a heatmap of individual plants, which shows those in peak health and those that require intervention. 

Do I need technical expertise to understand the results?

Fotenix outputs are shown as clear heat maps. While a basic understanding of the technical aspects helps, the required skills are minimal and easy to learn. Most users quickly learn how to read the results and use them in day-to-day decisions.

Can Fotenix integrate with my existing management software?

Fotenix can integrate with any management system that supports HTTP and MQTT communications protocols.

Do you offer automation?

Fotenix automates crop health scanning, reducing the time spent on manual scanning and enabling growers to detect issues up to five times faster than human scouts. 

Insights from our dashboard can be used directly or integrated into common greenhouse management systems that support HTTP and MQTT communications protocols to support automated processes.

How early can the system detect a problem?

Fotenix spots stress signals long before they are visible to the human eye. In protected environments, such as vertical farms or greenhouses, issues can be detected up to 80% faster than they would otherwise be, reducing the time to react by several days.

How much will data storage cost? 

Pricing isn’t fixed and is scaled to the size of the farm and the type of license you require (standard or advanced – depending on the data support you require). We try to keep the cost of data storage in line with your current spend, and a typical site will likely to see payback on their investment in Fotenix within 12-18 months. 

Can I access raw data or only processed data?

The data collected by our units is processed and interpreted via dashboards and heatmaps. All the raw, spectral data can be made available for research or integration if required — but most growers find the processed insights more useful for day-to-day decisions.

Can I move the unit between different locations?

Currently, the units are fixed in position above trays or benches and are calibrated to that position, making them difficult to move between locations. We are developing an alternative, mobile system, which we expect to launch in 2026.

How is Fotenix powered?

Fotenix runs on standard mains electricity. Cameras and lights are connected to a small control box that powers the system and manages data transfer. No additional infrastructure is required beyond a reliable power source where the units are installed.

Can Fotenix go on a drone?

No. Unlike drone systems, Fotenix cameras are fixed in place within the farm. This means all levels of the greenhouse are covered, and plants are scanned continuously, rather than just during flyovers. By integrating fully into the growing environment, Fotenix delivers more consistent and detailed monitoring than drones.