February 10, 2026
Higher Yield, Lower Costs, Smarter Growing:
How Funghii Helps Mushroom Growers Work More Efficiently
Monitoring mushroom growth is a delicate balancing act. Growers must closely follow up multiple beds, spot small changes in development, and adjust growing conditions at exactly the right moment. This requires time, experience, and constant attention. To support growers in this complex task, Belgian technology company Heliovision developed Funghii: an AI-powered solution that combines cameras, sensors, and smart software to continuously monitor mushroom crops. CEO Emile Derache explains how Funghii is developed together with growers, and how it helps farms increase yields, improve harvesting efficiency, and reduce costs.
Built together with growers
Emile Derache, a mechanical engineer specialized in robotics, is the CEO of Belgian tech company Heliovision. “We create smart systems that combine software and hardware for image-based analysis.” he says. “Using artificial intelligence and computer vision, we automate tasks that are difficult, repetitive, or time-consuming for people.”
The idea for Funghii originated on a mushroom farm. In 2022, a Dutch grower contacted Heliovision with a request for a post-harvest quality control tool. During this collaboration, a broader opportunity became clear: monitoring mushroom growth BEFORE harvest.
“Together with growers and industry experts, we started thinking about how we could follow the crop throughout the entire growing cycle,” Derache explains. “That is how Funghii was born.”
From the beginning, mushroom growers have actively contributed to the development of the system. Their practical feedback helped shape the features, interface, and functionality. As a result, Funghii is closely aligned with daily farm reality.
Continuous monitoring with cameras and sensors
“Funghii is an AI-powered tool that supports mushroom growers in increasing yields, improving picking performance, and gaining deeper insights into their crops”, says Derache.
Each growing room is equipped with four cameras that take hourly images of selected beds. These images form a representative overview of what is happening in the entire room. In addition, sensors continuously measure environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and CO2. “All this information is processed automatically and shown in clear dashboards,” says Derache. “Growers can log in through a browser on their computer, tablet, or smartphone to follow their farm at all times.”
Funghii monitors all growth stages of the crop. By comparing image series over time, the software detects small changes that are very difficult for humans to observe. “Especially during the pinning phase, our software can see differences that the human eye easily misses,” Derache adds.
From data to clear insights
Funghii does more than collect data: it translates information into practical insights that support daily decision-making. Pins and mushrooms are highlighted directly on the images. Green indicates that they are still growing, while red shows that growth has stopped. This visual feedback makes it easy to assess crop status at a glance.
The system also sends alerts in case of problems, such as under- or overpinning or unfavorable room conditions. Notifications can even be sent via WhatsApp, so growers are informed immediately.
“Growers are constantly adjusting room settings,” Derache explains. “Funghii shows the true impact of these changes on the crop, based on objective data. This allows growers to validate their own observations and learn what works best in their specific situation.”
Higher yields and better harvesting
Farms using Funghii achieve clear results: up to 10% higher yields and around 5% better picking performance. “These improvements are achieved within existing growing rooms,” says Derache. “No expansion is needed, and many customers recover the cost within one year.”
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Another key feature is yield prediction per flush. By analyzing images from early growth stages, Funghii predicts how many kilograms per square meter will be harvested, up to 24 hours in advance.
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“This is a major advantage, especially because mushrooms have a short shelf life,” Derache explains. “It helps farms plan sales, staffing, and logistics more efficiently.” In future updates, Funghii aims to provide predictions several days before harvest and will include estimates of final mushroom size.
Easy installation and secure access
Heliovision delivers Funghii as a complete solution, including cameras, sensors, cabling, and a web-based application. “Our team installs the hardware and ensures everything works correctly,” Derache says. “Growers receive personal logins and a half-day training session to get started. All data are securely stored in the cloud and are only accessible to the customer’s team and Heliovision’s developers. Ongoing support and remote monitoring are included.”
From monitoring to automation
Today, Funghii mainly provides monitoring and insights. In the future, it will evolve into an advisory and automated system. “The software will suggest concrete actions, such as adjusting temperature when growth slows down,” says Derache. “Eventually, it will also be able to automatically execute preferred actions.” Still human expertise will remain essential. Funghii is designed to support growers, not replace them.
Growing together
Funghii is currently used at farms in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The number of users continues to grow. Because Funghii works with a subscription model, all customers receive regular updates and new features.
“Mushroom growers have been involved with Funghii since the beginning,” Derache concludes. “We use their feedback to keep improving our product. Just like mushrooms, Funghii is alive and growing.”
Get in touch
Want to learn more about Funghii? Visit the website or contact the Heliovision team for more information, or to schedule an intake meeting.​