AgriFoodTech 2019: High Tech innovations for Agri & Food

On 11 and 12 December 2019, the fourth edition of the AgriFoodTech trade fair organised by Mikrocentrum took place. In the Brabanthallen in 's-Hertogenbosch the top sectors "High Tech Systems & Materials" came together with "Agri & Food and Horticulture and Starting Materials". Approximately 1,500 visitors were introduced to the latest High Tech and ICT innovations in both the 60 lectures and the more than 100 exhibitors. 

Panel discussion and the congress at AgriFoodTech 2019

Wageningen University held a panel discussion on 11 December where visitors were given the opportunity to start a dialogue about people and technology in the Agro & Food sector. They looked at developments that are necessary so that technological developments not only increase productivity and quality, but also produce positive social and sustainable effects. During the conference on 12 December, visitors were given the opportunity to learn everything about how companies such as Friesland Campina, Verstegen Spices & Sauces B.V. & Heineken apply technologies and innovations in their companies focused on the food sector, in a dialogue. 

Keynotes by Prof. Dr. Peter Groot Koerkamp and Prof. Dr. Ir. Lenny van Erp

The first day of AgriFoodTech2019 was kicked off by keynote speaker Prof. Dr. Ir. Peter Groot Koerkamp (Wageningen University). He spoke about the impact that technology and robotics have on the future of Agri & Food. On the second day Dr. Ir. Lenny van Erp-van der Kooij (HAS University of Applied Sciences) talked about the challenges of using sensors that dairy farms, pig units and poultry farms use in individual or group housing systems. 

Hackathon Redesign Your Agrifood Business

National and international students, developers, designers and technicians worked for two days on concrete issues for organisations in the Agrifood and Tech sectors. During this edition of Hackathon Redesign Your AgriFood Business, the teams built working prototype applications and innovative business models. On 12 December, the jury, consisting of Piet Rombouts, Frans Broeders and Piet Jan den Dikken, chose the winner of the Hackathon Redesign Your AgriFood Business 2019. According to the jury, Daan Corporaal and Shihaab Rouine of Fontys Hogescholen and Mariska Krijnen of HAS Hogeschool had the best application and won the 1st prize. They came up with an integrated solution consisting of drones, robots, connected to a smart application for the theme of agroforestry. 

AgriFoodTech Festival 'Be SMART: Innovate and invest'. 

During the programme of the AgriFoodTech Festival 'Be SMART: Innovate and invest' on 11 December, Leen Zevenbergen, an expert in the field of sustainability and leadership, shared his vision on the latest technological developments in Agri & Food. He did this with his lecture 'Innoveer of Disappear'. Together with top entrepreneurs Ruud Zanders (Kipster) and Eelco Osse (Osse Group) he entered into a discussion about the latest technological developments. 

Innovations

This year, too, there were various innovations to be discovered both on the stands and on the demopleinen. The EU-funded project, the Trimbot, was on display. Rijk Zwaan Breeding B.V. and Flier Systems jointly presented a new sowing system on paper. Gordan introduced the new e-Gro, the software platform for data driven Precision Growing.