News Agribusiness Awards
BBLeap wins Agribusiness Award 2023
BBLeap is the winner of the Boerenbusiness Agribusiness Award 2023. This was announced this afternoon (November 21) during the award ceremony at the ABN Amro head office in Amsterdam. The award is intended for innovative products and services that benefit the agricultural entrepreneur. BBLeap won the award with a plant-specific spraying technique with a real-time camera. "This is really a technique for real precision agriculture and can be used very broadly and internationally," said jury chairman Aalt Dijkhuizen.
According to the company, the plant-specific spraying technique ultimately allows significant savings on crop protection products (up to 80%) and fertilizer (30%). 20% higher yields can also be achieved. "With farmers at plant level, BBLeap sets a new standard," says the independent jury.
Definition of precision agriculture tightened
"With this innovation, BBLeap tightens the definition of precision agriculture. It is no longer about protecting or strengthening the entire crop or part of the field, but about keeping each individual plant healthy. With farmers at plant level, BBLeap sets a new standard ' the jury, consisting of Aalt Dijkhuizen, Pierre Berntsen and Jan Omvlee, stated in the jury report.
BBLeap also participated three years ago and was not nominated because the innovation was not yet market ready. The technology has now been further developed and marketed. According to Peter Millenaar, owner of BBLeap, the plant-specific spraying technique not only provides financial benefits for the farmer, but also helps to 'save the planet, so make the world a little more beautiful and sustainable', he said. in the studio of Boerenbusiness in the run-up to the award presentation. "Spraying, taking care of their crops, farmers do to feed them, fight things, so that everyone has good and safe food. We create technology to determine and take action where it is necessary, at plant level (...) The big advantage for the agricultural entrepreneur is that they lay down a blueprint for the next generation to keep the earth healthy and produce good food for many years to come. So that you can continue to farm."
'At some point you also need attention'
Millenaar's first reaction was after it was announced that BBLeap had won the award: "This feels very good. I really liked the reaction of people after the nomination. At some point you also need attention and then an award helps."
The presentation of the fifth Agribusiness Award by jury chairman Dijkhuizen took place in front of a room full of agricultural entrepreneurs and the finalists. The presentation was in the hands of Roxana van der Meulen. Pierre Berntsen of ABN Amro said: "Innovation has not only received praise, think of the critical voices about emission-reducing systems. I think that is unjustified. It is not the holy grail, but it is an important building block."
"We are always surprised by the quality of the entries," said jury member Omvlee. "But we still came out very well." Berntsen points out that the entries are also very diverse and that it is sometimes like comparing apples and oranges. According to Dijkhuizen, the innovative power of the agricultural and food sector is so great that the Agribusiness Award can continue for another fifty years. In addition to BBLeap, the nominees were Manure Enricher from GEA, Grasrefinage from Grassa and the InterraScan from Syngenta. He said that the four nominees are all working on topics that also play a role in society, such as circular working and using fewer resources. "Compliments to all four for responding to current events in such a way."
Last year's winner, Andela, explained what winning the prize meant. Last year they also won an award from the municipality and then from Flevoland, but the special thing about the Agribusiness Award was that it was specific to the sector. They have received a lot of media attention and great responses.
There were also two speakers during the event. Picnic co-founder Michiel Muller spoke about the world of entrepreneurship, innovation and strategic choices and Cynthia Zhu took the audience closer to the role of artificial intelligence in agriculture. The award is accompanied by a media package worth 6.500 euros and a follow-up program offered by ABN Amro.
For obtaining the award from Boerenbusiness Eighteen companies and organizations have registered this year. In its assessment, the jury took into account the following criteria: the entry must be an ingenious improvement, contribute significantly to the farmer's business operations and returns, be available and proven in practice, have great market potential and a positive favorability factor. .
Linda van Eekeres
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