Within the frame of REGIONS 4FOOD Interreg Europe participants and stakehoders were provided with best practices in the topic of AgriFood Digitisation in Limburg region. The companies and enterprises been visited apply advanced data management techiques namely for maintainig a good management of their activities including the production cycle, the environemnt and the economics of their businesses.
As starting the visit we were taken to Province House Limburg, Maastricht where ten minutes tour was provided in the Marble quarters of the Provincial Residence. With explanation about the Signing Ceremony of the EU Treaty of Maastricht, which included the introduction of the EU currency the Euro, by Dr Eric Lemmens.
Treemania
Following the visit to Province House Limburg the first presentation on digitisation based tree management was introduced by Gino Smeulders, representative of the Startup Treemania. We also visited a site with installed sensors. Through on our way to the next company presentation we walked in the lovely city of Baarlo.
Wolky Tolky
Wolky Tolky is a metering equipment that has sensors for various parameters of the microclimate and the health of plants as well as geolocation. The experience tour of Weather station Wolky Tolky was guided by Luc Verkoelen who represented the team.
Yoork
In the late afternoon the next visit was payed to IoT platform Yookr. The activities and references of the company were presented by John van Helden (Yookr) & Jan Jacobs (Fontys Hogeschool).
The day finished in the city centre of Roermond.
The second day of the study tour was dedicated for the introduction of several startups that provide digital business solutions for a range of agricultural activities. The pitches took place at the Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo, where the Dutch Food Week were also organised parallel.
Connecting Agri and Food
Connecting Agri & Food builds bridges between supply chain segments in the agricultural and food sectors. Angela van der Sanden explained that expertise creates win-win situations for agricultural suppliers, producers, processors and retailers. Smart Farming applications form basis for various projects in this field. (https://www.connectingagriandfood.nl/en/spearheads/smart-farming/)
Brite Solar Technologies
The startup company was introduced by Spyros Bousios manager. The company develops and sells highly transparent solar panel elements for greenhouses and for other field applications. (https://www.britesolar.com/)
Eagle drone
The startup company was introduced by Jan Theeven manager and geoinformatics expert. Cropfield game damage visualisation based on drone solutions and soil quality mapping based on multispectral analysis were introduced as best practices. ( http://www.eagledrone.nl/ )
GreenTechLab
Marcel Roossen research and innovation expert of Fontys University of Applied Sciences Venlo Campus introduced research based innovation of minor development. Students take part in development projects and provide prototype of applications and solutions that are able to be marketed.( https://fontys.nl/greentechlab/ )
AgriSyst
AgriSyst delivers return on data for entrepreneurs in pig farming, through service, data solutions and software. It focuses on customers and innovation . Marc Cox explained the company has developed whole production cycle data management device for pig industry. ( https://agrisyst.com/en/ )
Join-Data
JoinData is a non-profit cooperative for the agricultural entrepreneur.
Companies, knowledge institutes and agricultural entrepreneurs work together to stimulate sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation. Jos Tholen introduced the feasibility and data safety issues of high concern of the company. (https://www.join-data.nl/?lang=en)
The study visit concluded with the visit of two presentations of the Dutch Food Week Fair.
Project co-funded by European Union funds (ERDF, IPA, ENI) and the Hungarian Government.
More information: https://www.interregeurope.eu/regions4food/.
