Ministry of Economic Affairs starts testing ground for precision agriculture

The Ministry of Economic Affairs is making 2 million euros available for the start-up of the 'National Testing Ground for Precision Agriculture'. This amount will be made available for four years. The living lab serves to make inventions, prototypes and new technologies practical.

State Secretary Martijn van Dam of Economic Affairs announced the news on Monday 13 February. On that day, Van Dam pays a working visit to machine manufacturer Lely in Maasland and plant breeder Bunnik Plants. He is confident that, in addition to the 8 million euros from the government, the business community will also invest 8 million euros in the living lab over the life course of the project.

'Dutch agriculture is an international leader. In order to continue to do so, we must invest in progress', says the State Secretary. The pilot project is intended to ensure that Dutch agriculture and horticulture will continue to lead the way in the future. In the National Living Lab, new techniques in the field of drones and sensors can be tested and further developed in a realistic test set-up. They are then demonstrated to farmers who have to take over.

The National Living Lab starts with a design study. I have to map which one experiment rooms (greenhouses, arable land or stables) are there for the development of new agricultural technology. Based on this, it is determined what the wishes are. The study should yield results this summer, so that the testing ground can be further developed in the short term.

In order to remain an international agricultural leader, the agri & food sector must invest heavily in innovation, believes Van Dam. He previously announced that 16,5 million euros will be made available for the 'HighTech 2 Feed the World' project. This initiative focuses on accelerating technology from other sectors – such as the medical world or aerospace – for agriculture. The Ministry of Economic Affairs will also release 12 million euros for two investment funds. The business community is supporting this with another 12 million euros. The projects support technology starters. Another project has 500.000 euros in cash to accelerate start-ups within the tech sector. It starts with a accelerator for horticulture, followed by food and agritech.

Photo: Ministry of Economic Affairs

Niels van der Boom

Niels van der Boom is a senior market specialist for arable crops at DCA Market Intelligence. He mainly makes analyses and market updates about the potato market. In columns he shares his sharp view on the arable sector and technology.

n.vanderboom@boerenbusiness. Nl

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