Armenia Opens AI-Powered Greenhouse Using Robots to Grow 20 Tons of Tomatoes a Day for International Markets

A new high-tech greenhouse in Armenia is using artificial intelligence and robotics to monitor thousands of tomato plants, detect disease and pests, and track crops before they are harvested and shipped to international markets.

The greenhouse complex officially opened in Nor Yedesia, a village in Armenia’s Aragatsotn Province. The facility currently produces about 18 to 20 tons of tomatoes a day, with exports going to Latvia, Bulgaria, Romania, the United Arab Emirates and other markets.

Production is expected to reach about 40 tons a day as the operation expands.

At the center of the facility is a monitoring system that scans the greenhouse and collects data on the plants. Operators can track how much produce is growing, determine its stage of ripeness and identify unhealthy plants. A monitoring robot also scans for insects that could threaten the crop.

“The operations in this greenhouse are managed by artificial intelligence,” said Hayk Hunanyan, founder and director of Agro Prom. “At any given time, we can determine how many kilograms of tomatoes we have, how ripe they are, whether there are any diseased plants, and the robot even helps us identify what insects are present here.”

The tomatoes are grown without conventional soil, using a growing medium made from coconut fiber. Water and nutrients are delivered directly to the plants through a drip irrigation system, allowing growers to closely control conditions throughout the production cycle.

The project was financed through Acba Bank, while Acba Leasing helped the company acquire equipment for the greenhouse, Hunanyan said.

Acba Bank CEO Hakob Andreasyan said the project presented uncertainties when financing discussions began because the facility existed only as a plan.

“There were many questions while we were financing this project, but trust played a major role, and we confidently moved forward with the financing,” Andreasyan said. “The project we see completed today initially existed only as an idea on paper.”

He said the completed greenhouse showed the value of continuing to invest during difficult periods.

“In these difficult times, we must not lose our optimism,” Andreasyan said. “We need to keep moving forward and view every crisis as a new opportunity.”

Agro Prom is already moving ahead with the next stage of the project. Construction has begun on another greenhouse complex on a neighboring 10-hectare site.

The company also plans to build a production facility that will make packaging for its agricultural products, further expanding the operation beyond tomato cultivation.

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