I was anticipating robots and maybe drones zooming around the Wageningen University's Farm of the Future.
On this sunny day, Wijnand Sukkel, the project manager, can be seen in the extensive farmlands opposite the college premises, surrounded by empty trees and, of course, the ever-present windmills as a backdrop. He is gesturing towards the strips of plants in the fields.
He states that in the Netherlands, typically, these would be filled with a single crop such as maize or wheat.
In Lelystad, they are trying new farming practices, such as cultivating many crops simultaneously. At any given time, there are eight distinct crops planted here, amongst them wheat, onions, potatoes, and broad beans.
Mr Sukkel states that crop diversity positively impacts the land, stating, "It's a more productive use of water, it reduces the possibility of pest infestations and diseases, it increases biodiversity, it is beneficial to the soil, and it can result in higher yields."
It is estimated that the UN predicts the world population will have grown to almost 10 billion individuals by 2050. In response to this, Sukkel and his colleagues have undertaken initiatives to devise sustainable farming operations, which will not only guarantee an adequate supply of food for the increasing population but will also cut down on carbon emissions.
The university initiated the Farm of the Future program four years ago in response to the decrease in biodiversity brought on by changing climates. "We asked ourselves if it was doable to create a farm system for high food production without the use of fossil fuel energy, with no detrimental effects from pesticides and one that could withstand torrential rain and prolonged drought."
The Netherlands ranks second in terms of global exports of agricultural products.
It is forecasted that there has been an uplift of 9.4% in the value of exports, including those sourced from animals, and that this has now reached an unprecedented €104.7bn (£90bn; $114bn) in 2021, as reported by Wageningen Economic Research (WUR) and Statistics Netherlands (CBS).
Creating for a significant export trade puts a great deal of strain on the environmental resources of the country.
Mr Sukkel and his team are committed to sustaining production. "It's important to renew the soils and restore biodiversity. Global agriculture is now practiced on a massive and consistent basis, and it's too taxing on the land," he said.
In order to resist drought conditions, they implemented a drainage system designed to accumulate extra moisture and has it transferred belowground. "When it rains a lot in winter, all the runoff is channelled into the soil, where the drainage system later stores it in a large reserve under the surface."
At the Farm of the Future, there are perennial flower strips that provide food and shelter for insects. This way, they will not experience an "ecological death" by having everything harvested or planted at the same time.
The Farm of the Future, having shared its insights and findings with businesses and organisations globally, has invested in technology that enables its operations to become stronger and more lasting. Such technology includes a system to identify weeds.
Mr Sukkel notes that, instead of applying identical amounts of [germicide] to the entire area, the device can recognise weeds from the desired crops and administer limited doses.
He states that it is difficult for farmers to put money into tech due to the hefty expense. As an example, he points out that one of the more sizeable potato pickers costs €500,000 (£430,000) and only for a period of four weeks.
The Dutch authorities have shown their commitment to reduce environmental destruction by setting a goal to reduce nitrogen emissions by half by 2030. To meet this target, the government is urging livestock numbers to drop by one third, prompting demonstrations from agricultural workers across the country.
Jacob van den Borne, a third-generation farmer in the southwestern part of the Netherlands, grows mainly potatoes, but he also cultivates sugar beet, wheat, barley and small crops like parsnips and sweet potatoes on 900 hectares of land. In addition to selling domestically, his products are exported to England, Germany, Belgium and France.
Mr van den Borne realized that the soil's condition was deteriorating so he began investing in a more diverse selection of crops. As he supported the concept of precision farming, he made use of GPS technology to record, assess and investigate his crops with maximal efficiency in the pursuit of a greater yield.
He has invested in soil scanning technology that provides him the capability to chart and record every single square metre of soil. "With this, I'm able to raise the soil's potential and figure out which areas are better and modify those that aren't."
He is utilizing sensors and data infrastructure.
I have laid out roughly €1m in the form of investments, however I adhere to the principle of not buying new gadgets before settling the cost of the existing ones.
He states that for the upcoming year, a major emphasis is being put on variable rate irrigation, which is designed to give measured amounts of water at set intervals. "This is basically irrigation that happens according to need. We can't control the weather, but one thing that can be monitored accurately is the climate. When there's no rain, water can be supplemented."
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Mr van den Borne has invested heavily in disease management as well. He likened it to wearing sun lotion: "We have multiple weather stations monitoring the weather conditions so we can anticipate when the crop is vulnerable to attack. We take protective measures right before that moment; not too early, or else the crop will still be damaged."
He states that he is investing in AI to assist in providing solutions in the days ahead. "For instance, if a problem arises in the industry, we can attempt to resolve it with AI."
In my opinion, the farm of the future is heavily reliant on data, AI and gaining knowledge.
Meino Smit, author of a PhD thesis on the sustainability of Dutch agriculture from 1950 to 2015, and manager of an organic farm, expresses his concern that Dutch agriculture is not sustainable at present.
He claims that technology has a detrimental effect on the environment and that increased usage will only worsen the situation.
Machines on a large scale can have detrimental effects on the soil and consume a great amount of energy. Technology alone is not an answer to the problem. We must aim to reduce the energy output, while still utilizing technology and manpower.
Mr van den Borne remarks that farmers are realising they must be more flexible in order to accommodate climate change. He continues by highlighting that efficiency and eco-consciousness are now essential elements in agriculture, as "it's not just about the amount produced, but also the quality".
He's feeling the strain that is common among farmers. "It's quite intimidating, knowing that only a fraction of 1% of the world's population is providing sustenance for the rest. It's an essential responsibility."
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