Ostara and Haygrove Collaborate to Transform Polytunnel Growing by Integrated Advanced Tunnels, Sensing and Automation
Exploring how sensors and automation optimise Haygrove’s Advantage Tunnels to boost yields and maximise return on investment
Ostara, a leader in climate control software in polytunnels, and Haygrove, pioneers in innovative polytunnel design, have announced a collaboration that integrates cutting-edge sensing and automation solutions into Haygrove’s Advantage Tunnel with mechanised venting. This initiative aims to help growers maximise crop performance, reduce loss and maximise profitability in large-scale protected cropping operations.
Working in partnership, Ostara and Haygrove are showing how growers can move from reacting to problems as they happen to proactively creating the best possible conditions for crops.
The challenges for growers:
Increasingly extreme and variable weather patterns that can wipe out crops
Tighter margins that demands increased crop performance
Limited time to monitor and respond to crop conditions in the moment
The solution:
Haygrove Advantage Tunnels: A premium range of polytunnels, all equipped with mechanical venting and designed with a focus on functionality. They create optimal agronomic environments that enhance crop performance, improve labour efficiency, and allow for practical deployment at field scale, giving growers the tools they need to maximise productivity and streamline operations.
Sensors: Ostara’s platform integrates with environmental sensors to track key metrics such as temperature, humidity, PAR and VPD. These insights alert growers when action is needed, allowing them to adjust ventilation and maintain optimal crop health.
Automation: For growers who want to go further, Ostara’s control algorithms take the next step by automatically adjusting tunnel vents in line with grower-set targets. Unlike manual responses, the system looks ahead using weather forecasts and makes proactive decisions, such as closing vents in advance of storms, heavy rain or frost to protect crops before conditions become damaging.
Together, a combination of Haygrove tunnels with Ostara sensors and automation creates a responsive growing system where robust infrastructure, real-time data and proactive automation work simultaneously to optimise the growing environment.
Proof of Impact:
Recent trials using Haygrove’s EZvent tunnels demonstrated the benefits of the Ostara integration. Automated Haygrove tunnels controlled by Ostara stayed within the optimal VPD range up to 25% more of the time compared to non-automated tunnels, delivering an average of 11% improvement in maintaining optimal conditions.
“My job might be all about data and algorithms, but a growers’ is not. What matters for them is peace of mind. Knowing their tunnels are making the right decisions for them, whether it’s the middle of the night or before a storm rolls in, it means less stress and more focus on growing. That’s where the value in this collaboration lies.” Adam, CTO, Ostara
"Ostara enables us to maximise the performance of our polytunnel mechanised venting with a level of precision and timing that exceeds what human management can achieve. This not only delivers consistently improved growing conditions and higher yields but also allows us to manage a larger area more effectively, providing benefits well beyond labour savings – it is truly comparable to glasshouse-level control." Cristi Marmandiu, International Lead Technical & Operations Advisor, Haygrove
If you’d like to discover how automated tunnels can transform your growing, come and meet us at Fruit Attraction in Madrid, 30 September – 2 October 2025. You can also get in touch with our teams directly here to learn more.
