Cybersecurity project at Tomatoworld
Cybersecurity becomes practical when greenhouse systems start sharing data
Data-driven cultivation is opening up more and more possibilities in the greenhouse. Sensors, climate computers, data hubs and platforms provide information that helps growers manage cultivation processes more precisely and make better-informed decisions. At the same time, the sector is becoming increasingly dependent on digital connections. That is why the greenhouse at Tomatoworld is being used to explore how cybersecurity develops within data-driven and autonomous cultivation. How can systems and companies be connected while keeping access, data flows and system links secure and manageable?
The greenhouse shows where risks can arise
In the Tomatoworld field lab, partners within NXTGEN Hightech Agrifood are carrying out a practical trial on cybersecurity in greenhouse horticulture. Partners involved include Hortivation, InnovationQuarter, Plantfellow, TNO, LetsGrow.com and 30MHz. The trial looks at vulnerabilities that can arise in connections between data hubs, networks, climate computers, sensors and other greenhouse systems. This is exactly where value is created, because information can be shared and used. At the same time, it is also where new digital risks can emerge.
Sharing data requires overview and clear agreements
An important practical example is data exchange across companies, such as within the RoboCrops data hub of the NXTGEN Hightech programme. When multiple companies and systems exchange data, the network becomes more powerful and more complex at the same time. That is why the project includes the development of a full system overview. Using Microsoft threat modelling tools and analyses of realistic scenarios, potential risks are identified. This makes it clear where connections, access points and data flows may be vulnerable.
Not every risk calls for the same solution
The research distinguishes between general digital risks and vulnerabilities that are specific to greenhouse horticulture. For general risks, broadly applicable measures often already exist, such as network security, access management and secure data flow design. Greenhouse horticulture also requires attention to risks that arise from the specific way in which cultivation processes, partners and greenhouse systems work together. These insights help growers and technology partners better assess which measures can already be applied and where joint solutions are still needed.
Secure connections help move the Handsfree Agrifood ecosystem forward
Cybersecurity is therefore more than a technical topic. It is a precondition for connected systems and for the further development of Handsfree Agrifood. When data can be shared securely and systems can work together in a manageable way, there is more room to further develop data-driven and autonomous cultivation responsibly. Within NXTGEN Hightech Agrifood, this knowledge is being built in practice with partners from the ecosystem, so that insights from Tomatoworld can become more widely applicable for companies working on connected greenhouse horticulture.