SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATING TRANSFER OF PLANTS WITHIN AN AGRICULTURAL FACILITY

One variation of a method for automating transfer of plants within an agricultural facility includes: dispatching a loader to autonomously deliver a first module-defining a first array of plant slots at a first density and loaded with a first set of plants at a first growth stage-from a first grow location within an agricultural facility to a transfer station within the agricultural facility; dispatching the loader to autonomously deliver a second module-defining a second array of plant slots at a second density less than the first density and empty of plants-to the transfer station; recording a module-level optical scan of the first module; extracting a viability parameter of the first set of plants from features detected in the module-level optical scan; and if the viability parameter falls outside of a target viability range, rejecting transfer of the first set of plants from the first module.