AI Matches Expert in Identifying Soil Pests for Farmers

Underneath every field lies an invisible world that determines whether crops thrive or fail, and now artificial intelligence is helping farmers see what only a handful of global experts could identify before.

Researchers at The Hague-based Veridi Technologies and Wageningen University have created an AI system that recognizes destructive nematodes through a microscope with 96 percent accuracy. These microscopic worms, smaller than a grain of rice, cause roughly 10 percent of all global crop losses and cost farmers tens of billions of euros annually.

The challenge has always been identification. Nematodes live in nearly all soil, and while many species help crops grow, others destroy them from the roots up. Root-knot nematodes attack flower bulbs, onions, and seed potatoes, leaving produce deformed and unsellable.

Until now, only a small group of trained specialists worldwide could tell harmful species apart under a microscope. That bottleneck meant farmers often waited weeks for results or managed soil blindly, sometimes using unnecessary chemicals.

The new Nemascope system changes that equation entirely. Veridi trained the AI using thousands of verified images from Wageningen's controlled nematode cultures, teaching it to spot the notoriously tricky Columbia root-knot nematode, which looks nearly identical to harmless relatives.

"When farmers have reliable tools to understand what is happening beneath their fields, they can make better decisions, reduce unnecessary chemical use and protect yields," said Veridi CEO Ziad Matar. The technology puts expert-level diagnosis directly in farmers' hands.

Different nematode species require completely different management approaches. Some respond to crop rotation or planting specific cover crops, while others need adjusted planting schedules. Knowing exactly which species lives in the soil means farmers can choose the right strategy instead of defaulting to broad chemical treatments.

The Ripple Effect

The implications stretch far beyond individual farms. In regions without specialist laboratories, this affordable diagnostic tool could transform how communities manage agricultural land and food security.

The European Innovation Council is now funding the next phase, which will identify beneficial nematodes that indicate healthy, biodiverse soil. This timing aligns perfectly with Europe's new Soil Monitoring Law, which requires measurable soil health tracking.

As the technology expands to recognize more species, it could help both policymakers and farmers meet rising environmental standards while protecting crop yields. Healthy soil feeds the world, and now AI is helping us understand and protect what lies beneath our feet.