Lamb Weston Processes Potatoes using AI, Boosting Quality, Sustainability, and Efficiency

A new collaboration between Lamb Weston, HAI, Radboud University and ISPT is transforming potato processing across Europe. The project focuses on improving efficiency, product quality and sustainability by integrating AI insights directly into LambWeston’s production lines.

Advanced AI Insights for Potato Quality

Radboud University is developing advanced AI models that analyze potato quality with high accuracy. These insights help identify raw-material variations early, boosting yields and reducing waste. Supporting this, HAI’s Cloud Data Platform unifies scattered production data into a secure, scalable environment for real-time AI use.

Bas van Damme, Grading Hub Manager at Lamb Weston:

"Customers choose us because of the consistent quality we send throughout the year; this is one of our USPs."

He notes that AI-driven quality prediction plays a growing role in maintaining that consistency.

Marjan Sonke-Veerman, Crop-to-Frozen Specialist at Lamb Weston:

"The combination of hyperspectral imaging and AI allows us to make better, faster and more in-depth quality predictions."

These enhanced insights allow processors to avoid poor batches, reduce losses and optimize resource use.

Marjan Sonke-Veerman, Crop-to-Frozen Specialist at Lamb Weston, says that combining Hyperspectral Imaging with AI enables them to make quality predictions that are faster, more accurate and far more detailed.

AI Integrated into Daily Factory Operations

AI-generated predictions and alerts will soon appear directly in the HAI dashboards used by operators. This integration allows faster, more consistent decisions during production, strengthening process control and ensuring stable product quality. 

By embedding AI into daily operations rather than isolating it as a separate system, the technology becomes a practical tool for operators — supporting efficient use of energy, raw materials and labour.

Potatoes on the processing line, where AI-generated predictions will soon guide operators in real time.

Strengthening Sustainability and Industrial Innovation

This initiative aligns with ISPT’s mission to accelerate digitalisation and sustainability in European process industries. The Lamb Weston–HAI–Radboud partnership demonstrates how cross-sector collaboration can produce real-world, ready-to-use AI applications. 

Beyond efficiency and quality, the project supports long-term goals such as reducing waste, lowering emissions, and moving toward a more circular agrifood chain. Its success is expected to set a benchmark for other food and industrial producers across Europe.

Read the full interview in NPT Process Technology, November 2025: https://lnkd.in/edakYqd5