04 June 2026, Germany: German agricultural robotics company Eternal.ag has expanded the commercial deployment of its fully autonomous greenhouse harvesting robots through a long-term partnership with Dutch greenhouse producer Van Noord Growers, marking a significant step in the company’s international growth strategy.
Van Noord Growers, based in Zeeland, the Netherlands, cultivates tomatoes and cucumbers across an 8.5-hectare greenhouse operation. The company has been operating Eternal.ag’s autonomous tomato-harvesting robot, known as the Harvester, since September 2025 and plans to increase its fleet to three units during the summer following the successful performance of the first robot.
The Harvester is designed for truss tomato harvesting and can operate autonomously for up to 22 hours a day throughout the week. The robot uses artificial intelligence to assess fruit ripeness, maintain harvesting consistency, and ensure clean cutting during the harvesting process. According to Eternal.ag, the system was integrated into Van Noord Growers’ existing operations through a plug-and-play deployment model.
The expansion comes as greenhouse producers worldwide face increasing labor shortages and rising workforce challenges. Growers are increasingly evaluating automation technologies to maintain production efficiency and address long-term labor availability concerns.
At Van Noord Growers, the autonomous harvester currently works alongside human employees. However, the company views automation as an essential component of its future production strategy.
“We grow a high-quality product and our customers remain our highest priority,” said Jeffry Van Noord, co-owner of Van Noord Growers. “The approach taken by Eternal.ag aligns with our long-term needs. Over the next 10 to 15 years, labor availability is expected to become an even greater challenge, making automation increasingly important. We are already scaling automation and intend to expand its use across additional greenhouse functions and crops.”
For Eternal.ag, the deployment represents an important commercial milestone as the company seeks to scale its technology beyond initial pilot projects. The company publicly introduced the Harvester in March 2026 after emerging from stealth development.
“Scaling our first commercial deployment demonstrates that our robots can operate successfully in real-world greenhouse environments,” said Renji John, CEO and co-founder of Eternal.ag. “Harvesting in greenhouse conditions remains one of the most technically challenging applications in agricultural robotics due to crop variability and changing environmental conditions. Van Noord Growers’ decision to expand from one to three Harvesters reflects confidence in the technology and in the broader role automation can play in greenhouse production.”
Global Agriculture is an independent international media platform covering agri-business, policy, technology, and sustainability. For editorial collaborations, thought leadership, and strategic communications, write to pr@global-agriculture.com
