Automating a Labor-Intensive Process
The new technology automates exactly this labor-intensive part of the workflow. By combining AI, automated microscopy and high-throughput image analysis, large numbers of eggs and juveniles from opened cysts can be assessed rapidly and reproducibly.
“Laboratories around the world face the same challenge. The work is highly specialized, extremely labor-intensive and qualified personnel are increasingly difficult to find,” said Pieter Vos, Managing Director of HLB. “With Antonie’s technology, we can now support a significant part of this process without compromising quality or reproducibility.”
Jerome H. Mol, CEO of Antonie, added: “HLB understands exactly what the market needs. That makes them the ideal partner to help realize our mission of ‘Improving Soil Health’.”
As a specialized agricultural laboratory, HLB played an important role in the development and validation of the new methodology. Existing protocols for isolating and opening cysts remain unchanged. The innovation lies in the automated analysis of cyst contents, a step that until now has been performed largely by hand.
According to Vos, this development aligns closely with HLB’s ambition to make innovative diagnostics accessible to agricultural practice.
“By combining new technologies with our expertise in soil and plant health, we can continue providing our customers with reliable analyses and future-proof solutions.”
Innovation Supporting Better Crop Decisions
Beyond potato production, the technology also offers opportunities for other cyst-sensitive crops such as sugar beet and soybean. As a result, this innovation contributes to more efficient diagnostics, improved crop management decisions and more sustainable agriculture.
With this development, HLB and Antonie are taking an important step toward the future of nematode diagnostics: faster, more scalable and supported by the power of AI.
