First successful consortium day for the fruit sector

The very first consortium day for the fruit sector with international aspirations took place on 6 December 2024 in Proeftuin Randwijk and was a great success. With a diverse group of participants, consisting of growers, tech developers, researchers and representatives of the Ministry of LVVN, exactly the target group that was central to this meeting was reached. The energy and interaction during the day showed that this topic is alive and that the establishment of a community around the fruit sector is experienced as valuable. Under the leadership of moderator Patricia Hoogervorst (NFO), a well-filled program was presented, in which both knowledge sharing and interaction were central.

This day marked an important first step in connecting the fruit sector through a new consortium. The goal is to create a community in which technology, research and practice strengthen each other to make progress together. The broad support among the participants confirmed the need for such a platform. This meeting was also positioned as the start of an international movement that takes innovation, collaboration and technology to a higher level.

During the meeting, three major projects took center stage: Next Fruit 4.0, NXTGEN Hightech: Handsfree Agrifood, and Orchard of the Future. Each project was presented by a panel of project leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, and growers, providing a comprehensive view of the collaboration pillars within the sector.

Next Fruit 4.0

Next Fruit 4.0 focused on the question: If there were a network of tech companies focused on fruit cultivation tomorrow, what would be the first task you would give this network? Patricia led the discussion, during which Peter Frans de Jong (WUR, project leader) gave a concise explanation of the project’s focus and achievements. He emphasized the importance of supporting early adopters. Pieter van Dalfsen (WUR) elaborated on the implementation of precision spraying technology and made concrete recommendations to better align knowledge and practice. Charles van den Heuvel (Van Wamel) stressed the importance of the fruit grower: “Put the grower at the center, they have to work with it.” Grower Peter Baars shared his practical experiences and emphasized that growers must be convinced of the benefits: better quality, uniform cultivation, and higher efficiency.

NXTGEN Hightech: Handsfree Agrifood

At NXTGEN Hightech, the question was posed: What can a network of tech companies focused on fruit cultivation contribute? Peter Schellekens (FME, project leader) provided insight into the national and international goals of the project. He emphasized the importance of ecosystem development and cross-UC collaboration, citing the example ‘Orchard to Table.’ Bas Boom (OnePlanet) spoke about the role of sensor technologies, such as the Treescout, and how Dutch growers are essential for knowledge development and breeding. Bert Rijk (Aurea Imaging) demonstrated how NXTGEN has contributed to the capabilities of the Treescout and emphasized the need for financial space for early adopters. Grower Frans Rijk shared how he applies this technology in his business and stressed the importance of utilizing each other’s knowledge and networks.

Orchard of the Future (OotF)

The Orchard of the Future project focused on international collaboration and the question: What can a network of tech companies contribute to fruit cultivation? Peter Frans de Jong (WUR) explained the cooperation with Washington State University and highlighted the importance of knowledge sharing and company visits. Han Smits (Munckhof) described how this collaboration has advanced his company and underscored that network building must be done by entrepreneurs themselves, learning from other sectors. Grower Berend Jan van Westreenen spoke about the importance of international cooperation and expanding a network of growers. He advocated for more success stories and a shared pursuit of profitability.

The day has yielded a lot of valuable input, both in terms of content and in the interaction between participants. During breaks, ideas were exchanged and statements were discussed, which led to new insights and connections. This confirms that the vision of the consortium matches the needs of the sector. Critical feedback is taken into account, but the day gave a strong positive feeling about the direction that has been taken.

The NXTGEN Hightech program plays a crucial role in building an ecosystem in which technological innovation, practical applications and research reinforce each other. By supporting projects such as Handsfree Agrifood, the program connects different players in the sector, broadens the possibilities for collaboration and accelerates the development of innovative solutions into practical applications. This consortium day showed how NXTGEN Hightech supports the goals of the fruit consortium in working towards a future-proof and sustainable fruit sector with a strong focus on international collaboration. The event was an important step in activating the community, strengthening mutual connections and laying a solid foundation for further international growth.

The first fruit consortium day achieved its goal: informing, inspiring and connecting. The interactive setup ensured involvement and the demonstrations of robotics technologies brought the future of precision farming closer. The enthusiastic reactions of participants underline the added value of this meeting and provide energy to further shape this community. On to the next steps!

Do you want to contribute to a future-proof fruit sector with international aspirations as an entrepreneur, researcher or grower? Then contact Peter Schellekens.