'Innovations help farmers with challenges in the sector'

The agricultural sector faces major challenges, including when it comes to labor and sustainability. Innovations are therefore extra important, says Jan de Ruyter of ABN Amro. Reason for the bank, as a partner of the Agribusiness Award, to offer the winner a follow-up program this year.

Watch and listen to the interview with Jan de Ruyter or read the article further below the video.
 

"The Dutch agricultural sector is known for its innovative character in many different areas," notes Jan de Ruyter, Sector Banker Plant Sectors at ABN Amro. And that, he says, is an important feature. "The sector faces a number of challenges, including sustainability, labor problems and soil pollution. All kinds of aspects in which new technologies and innovations could play a role."

Companies in the periphery important
At the same time, De Ruyter sees that a lot is happening in this area worldwide. "There are companies that are working with data, with sensors, with all kinds of drive technologies, and so on. This is done very quickly and on a large scale. The Dutch manufacturing industry is lagging slightly behind. As a bank, we would like the Dutch agricultural sector to continue to lead the way. Companies in the periphery are important for this, as they can help give farmers and horticulturists a better position."

ABN Amro expects robots to take off in the Dutch agricultural sector in the coming years. This is how the bank describes the report 'Battle for agricultural robots breaks loose'† "We will certainly notice that from the image on the field," says De Ruyter. "Robots will perform cultivation operations. Companies in the manufacturing industry will collaborate with entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector to make this a success. We expect that cross-pollination - also from other sectors - will take shape."

Deploy network and expertise
In the report, ABN Amro also describes a number of bottlenecks that still (partly) hinder the use of robots. One of these is legislation according to De Ruyter. "For example, no autonomous device is currently allowed to drive on land without someone being there to coordinate it. We also see some bottlenecks in financing. Raising capital in the start-up phase is relatively difficult in the Netherlands. And parties from different sectors come together. is quite difficult. As a bank, we certainly see a role in offering our network and expertise."

With that in mind, ABN Amro this year created a prize for the Agribusiness Award. The winner will be offered a follow-up program by the bank. "What that means exactly depends on what the winner needs. We have a very interesting network within and outside the agricultural sector that we can offer. We can also help companies with all kinds of financial and sustainability issues."

If you want to have a chance to win this prize with your company, register your innovation for the Agribusiness Award via boerenbusiness.nl/Award† You can register until September 12.

Jeanette Pennings

Jeannet has her roots in the flower bulb sector and she grew up on an agricultural company in the northern part of North Holland. As a generalist she reports for Boerenbusiness across all sectors. She is also exploring the possibilities of sponsored advertising.

j.pennings@boerenbusiness. Nl

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