Online edition October 2026 | Smart Food Manufac­turing and Personnel

We’re automating all sorts of tasks in the food industry. Robots take mind-numbing work off our hands, and machines talk to each other. AI takes things a step further. It makes processes faster, smarter, and often more efficient.

The ARIE regulations have been in force in the Netherlands since January 2023. Their purpose is to prevent major workplace accidents involving hazardous substances and protect employee safety. The Netherlands Labour Authority recently published a report on the implementation period. In the interview, Charlotte Kottier and Carlo de Deckere share the initial findings.

The new Dutch Cybersecurity Act sets stringent cybersecurity requirements for organizations in the Netherlands that provide essential or important services. More than 8,100 companies fall within its scope, including around 1,200 in the food sector. They must comply with what is known as a “duty of care.” This law therefore affects the entire supply chain. That includes you. In the feature article, Henk Bijsterbosch brings us up to speed on this rather complex subject.

Also in this edition:

Company features on Biscuit International and EVO-it; logistics becomes a piece of cake. Picnic saves 35% through smart refrigeration technology, with RBK as its advisor. Following a major fire, Vice Versa built a new frozen storage facility and further optimized its processes, and ForFarmers moves from spot checks to certainty with automated code inspection from De Koningh.