UK and NL produce together about 30% of the total horticultural produce for export. Outdoor horticulture in the
UK is at a very high level and one of the best markets to launch technology and professionalize technology for the Dutch markets Both horticultural farming ecosystems in the UK and in the Netherlands face immense challenges in acquiring labourers on their fields. Both countries depend on successful innovative startups, as automated solutions are often mentioned as the solution to this problem. The Netherlands are leading in smart machines for fresh vegetables and fruit. The UK is leading in scaling large high-tech farms, with high levels of data infrastructure and connectivity with high-quality fruits and (outdoor) vegetables in fast exporting value chains with a demanding retail culture. If these countries could team up to develop and mature smart technologies faster, the world and Dutch growers can start benefiting from their impact.
This proposal focuses on two environments: 1. outdoor vegetables and 2. fruits. We will develop and integrate
automation technology at farm level for both environments, in direct interaction with the end user (the farmers).
A consortium of growers, tech companies and knowledge institutes from both countries will team up to bring and exchange knowledge, aiming to create practical and user-ready solutions. This cooperation will push existing tech knowledge towards implementation in much-needed on-farm applications, aiming to boost the international horticulture sector.

The goal of the project is to develop and mature Smart Technologies in fresh vegetable- and fruit produce to
increase value while reducing labour dependency and negative environmental impacts of crop protection. This
is considered a high priority by the UK government1, and aligns with KIA Subprogram 3 (Mission 2B: “Earning
capacity, perspective and value creation”).

The project aims to deliver the following results/solutions:
1. A well-integrated connection between new technology created in the project and (existing) farm management information system (FMIS) on the farm. For G’s and the horticulture partner to be determined. Connectivity of the machines of Tech partner to be determined, Pixelfarming and Brimapack. Including software building blocks for WUR to use in other and national solutions.
2. Outdoor Horticulture tech in collaboration with WUR, Brimapack, G’s, Pixelfarming Robotics and other Partners. Main technologies that will be matured:
3. An open field horticulture crop care technique (specifically for lettuce), and vision-based automated at farm locations of G’s. Main technologies that will be matured:
a. Autonomous soil works and laser weeding with pixelfarming robotics operated full seasons
b. Sensor based harvesting to minimize loss and optimize quality and enable autonomy on Brimapack machines (reduce labour)
4. Another work package providing a key technology solution that supports outdoor horticulture towards sustainable and profitable farming practices.
5. A demonstration of solutions on the farms at the end of the project (for other growers in the region, NL mission growers, tech providing partners benefit)
6. The projects also prepares a farm level research infrastructure to boost UK and NL Research Institutes collaborations executed in a new joined subsidy call, being prepared with an expected launch April 2025.