NXTGEN
The Netherlands has been a leader in the agrifood sector for many years thanks to our extensive knowledge, strong collaborative mentality and focus on sustainability. The market is still growing significantly, but faces challenges such as labour shortages, low margins and market fragmentation.
To stay on top, we need to keep innovating. The NXTGEN HIGHTECH programme, a growth fund programme, focuses on structural and sustainable growth through knowledge development, research, innovation and product development. The scope Agrifood falls under NXTGEN HIGHTECH, with close cooperation with partners within this domain strengthening the position of the hands-free agrifood sector. Tomatoworld acts as a field lab for NXTGEN HIGHTECH, which is crucial for testing and implementing new technologies.
Smart innovations allow us to assess crop quality during harvesting, harvest faster with fewer people, and recognise and intercept diseases and pests early. Collaboration with experts in automation, robotisation and digitalisation is essential to make the sector hands-free. We ensure that autonomous agricultural machinery operates safely and reliably by further developing advanced safety systems, simulation environments and remote assistance. We are also working on smart, demand-driven production lines that optimise the use of raw materials and minimise food waste, making the sector more efficient and sustainable.