Participating in the Agribusiness Award forces you to look at your own innovations through the eyes of others. Jury chair Laurens Sloot encourages companies in the agri-food sector to open up and submit their innovative product, service, or supply chain concept. The deadline for submissions is December 1, 2025. "It broadens your network, and a strong network fosters innovative capacity."
Innovation in the agri-food sector is crucial. "A good innovation increases a company's productivity and the quality of its production. This creates value. This helps both the most innovative companies and those that successfully implement innovations in their business processes grow," says Prof. Dr. Laurens Sloot. The director of EFMI Business School and part-time professor of Retail & Entrepreneurship at the University of Groningen joined the jury of the Agribusiness Awards.
Driving force
This year, Sloot takes over from jury chairman Aalt Dijkhuizen, who will remain involved as a jury member. "It's a great honor," says Sloot. "There's a lot of innovation happening in agribusiness. Think of seed breeding and the many data and robotics applications in greenhouse horticulture. In my role, I always take a broad view of the food sector, from farm to fork. The Netherlands is a major net exporter of food, and the strong primary sector is a driving force in this."
Last year, Sloot was impressed by the many innovations submitted. "There were several potential winners among them. I expect there will be more initiatives this year that increase labor productivity. There's a lot of price pressure in the food sector; labor is expensive and scarce. I'm thinking of solutions in the areas of automation and robotization. But also ideas that can reduce losses in the supply chain, for example, through the use of sensors, tags, and data analytics. I enjoy being surprised. The great thing is that there are always companies that come up with something you totally didn't expect."
Strong revenue model
Companies that want to register their innovation for the Agribusiness Award 2026 must take a number of things into account conditionsAs jury chair, Sloot focuses primarily on how innovative and distinctive the innovation is. He also considers whether it's still just an idea or a concept, or whether the innovation has already proven itself. "And we look at whether there's a potentially strong revenue model. Something only takes off if companies can actually make a profit from it."
Sloot's reason for contributing to the Agribusiness Award is the impact it has. "With the high visibility of the Agribusiness Award, it's not just a feather in the cap for the winning company, but also a showcase for the sector as a whole." And that's essential. "Just think of the Zembla reports on pesticide use or the political discussions about nitrogen, water, and migrant workers. The sector is sometimes quite under fire. It's important to properly highlight the sector's innovative and economic value. The Agribusiness Award contributes to that."
Expand network
His advice to companies wishing to submit their innovation: "Dare to be open. Participating in the Agribusiness Award forces you to look at your own innovations through the eyes of others. You also expand your network, and new things naturally come your way. People are eager to contribute ideas, and a strong network fosters innovative capacity."
Register before December 1st
Do you have an innovative product, service, or supply chain concept that deserves a platform? Then register for the Agribusiness Award 2026. Registration closes on December 1, 2025, so go to [website address missing]. www.agribusinessaward.nl and fill out the registration form.