The Agribusiness Award jury has announced the three nominees. Albert Heijn, Blue Radix, and Royal GD will compete for the coveted award, which will be presented on February 10, 2026, during the ABN AMRO Open in Ahoy Rotterdam. The jury received a total of 34 entries this year, representing a wide variety of innovations from across the agri-food sector.
The large number of entries underlines the innovative capacity in the Dutch agri-food sector. Agribusiness Awards – an initiative of ABN AMRO and DCA Market Intelligence – is intended to encourage this innovative spirit. Whether it's a product, service, or supply chain concept, large or small, sustainable innovations deserve a platform. A professional jury will assess all entries, and this year they faced a tough challenge.
"We received many high-quality innovations, well-diversified across the sectors," says jury chair Laurens Sloot, director of EFMI Business School and professor of Retail & Entrepreneurship. "The award enjoys broad support. It's wonderful to see that the sector's innovative strength remains strong and that retail is also increasingly connected to farming." Sloot, along with Aalt Dijkhuizen, Pierre Berntsen, and Jan Opschoor, selected the following three finalists.
Better for Nature & Farmers from Albert Heijn
With its Better for Nature & Farmer chains, certified by the Better for Foundation, Albert Heijn is making a significant contribution to the Dutch innovation and sustainability agenda. This chain-wide program sees Albert Heijn collaborate with farmers and growers to establish long-term agreements on revenue models, animal welfare, biodiversity, and CO₂ reduction. With incentives for sustainability and an independent certification system, Better for Nature & Farmer demonstrates how collaboration leads to a future-proof and innovative food system.
Crop Controller from Blue Radix
A leading AI company that enables autonomous growing and leverages its cultivation expertise for the global greenhouse horticulture sector. With Crop Controller, Blue Radix fully automatically optimizes climate and irrigation. This is incredibly valuable considering the limited availability of cultivation and expert knowledge. Crop Controller leads to higher yields, lower energy consumption, and future-proof businesses. A powerful example of how AI contributes to an efficient and sustainable food supply.
FlockVision from Royal GD
With FlockVision, Royal GD has developed an innovative camera system that uses AI to continuously monitor six essential poultry behaviors and detect any abnormalities early on. FlockVision provides real-time insight into the health and well-being of the animals, increasing farmer peace of mind and enabling targeted, efficient management. A powerful example of data-driven animal welfare in practice.
In the coming period, the nominees will pitch their innovations to the jury. Several criteria will be considered. For example, the innovation must be sustainable and proven in practice, have strong market potential, and demonstrably deliver financial benefits to Dutch farmers and growers. The winner of the 2026 Agribusiness Award will be announced on February 10, 2026.