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How digitally mature is the agricultural sector?
The largest trade fair for Agricultural technology and smart innovation, AgroTechniek Holland, recently took place at the Walibi site in Biddinghuizen. Part of this three-day event was the Scientific & R&D Workshop, intented to highlight groundbreaking developments in agricultural robotics. Many valuable contacts were made and there were two great presentations that we would like to highlight here.
Quick insights into opportunities and bottlenecks
The first presentation given by Joep Tummers, WUR researcher, focused on the digital maturity of agricultural entrepreneurs in dairy farming, arable farming, fruit cultivation and food processing in the global north. Joep abstracted important insights through a market and literature study and then made them available via a website including a chatbot.
With the information, technology suppliers and the use cases can easily see which markets are promising and which bottlenecks they have to take into account. A very useful tool to quickly gain insights.
Camera’s in the orchard: decisions at tree level
The second presentation, given by Pieter van Dalfsen, researcher in fruit cultivation and tree nursery at WUR, showed us how camera systems in fruit cultivation make decisons at tree level possible.
Dalfsen presented interesting results from a trial in 2024 at one of the NXTGEN testlocations at FRC Randwijk.
Research has shown that the amount of flower buds per tree in the orchard can vary greatly. With precision thinning, it is possible to achieve a more even fruit bearing and the effect continues. The following year - with a precise strategy - it leads to a more even orchard.
Data and technology are supportive in this process. The fruit grower determines the strategy and which subgroup gets which approach.
This can been seen as a useful case and serve as inspiration for other sectors. But remember, the following always applies: "Data leads the way, the entrepeneur chooses the route."
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