Looking back at the Demoday Data and Infrastructure at TomatoWorld
On October 15, TomatoWorld became a hub of digital collaboration. During the Demoday Data and Infrastructure of NXTGEN Hightech Agrifood, growers, technology companies, and researchers discovered how data, digital twins, and robotics come together in practical applications that advance greenhouse horticulture. The greenhouse became a living example of how abstract software turns into useful insights, and how collaboration is the key to real progress.
Where technology becomes tangible
The day gave visitors a chance to see technology in action. In the TomatoWorld greenhouse, guided tours led them along the Datalab, the Digital Twin, and the Hortivation Point, as well as interactive showcases featuring robots, sensors, and dashboards. Each demonstrated how systems can communicate and how data makes growers’ operations smarter and more efficient.
Sessions from organizations such as Platform Wiskunde Nederland and Erasmus University brought theory and practice together. They showed how mathematical models, artificial intelligence, and simulations contribute to more stable cultivation strategies and better energy use.
Learning through experience
Visitor reactions showed how valuable it is to experience technology firsthand. Abstract concepts like data infrastructures and digital twins gained meaning when brought to life in a real-world setting. Many participants also appreciated the opportunity to connect with peers and have open conversations about collaboration, ownership, and data accessibility.
One of the participants
“In greenhouse horticulture, it’s a challenge to turn fragmented data into usable insights. Data must be accessible for sharing, yet remain confidential and owned by those it belongs to.”
Connection as a condition for progress
The day made clear that digitalization is not just about technology but about people willing to share knowledge. The encounters between growers, developers, and researchers sparked new connections and concrete ideas for follow-up projects.
Liesbeth Leurs, Innovation Package Leader
“The strength of this day lay in bringing worlds together. When data, technology, and practice meet, something new emerges. We were able to show that here, quite literally.”
TomatoWorld, test location where innovation comes to life
The Demoday took place at a location that symbolizes the collaboration between practice and innovation. TomatoWorld is one of the test locations within NXTGEN Hightech Agrifood where technology is tested and validated in a real greenhouse environment. Visitors could see how digitalization, data exchange, and autonomous systems come together in practice.
Click here more about TomatoWorld as a test location within NXTGEN Hightech Agrifood >
A step within the Handsfree Agrifood ecosystem
The Demoday showed how collaboration within the Handsfree Agrifood ecosystem accelerates, improves, and broadens innovation. By connecting knowledge, data, and technology, innovations can reach practice faster. The greenhouse horticulture sector serves as an important proving ground for digital and autonomous solutions.
What became visible at TomatoWorld was more than a series of technological demonstrations. It was a glimpse into how data and collaboration are shaping the cultivation of the future, smarter, more sustainable, and increasingly autonomous.