Smart Farming & Food Processing

Breda Robotics Foundation is the initiator of this project, which responds perfectly to its two objectives, namely improving cooperation between industry and education/knowledge institutions. And facilitating and supporting industry and other organsiations to deploy more robotics and industry 4.0 technology that will support them to keep facing economic and social issues now and in the future. With its experience and network, Breda Robotics can contribute to visualising the concrete challenges in agro food and food processing on the one hand. But on the other hand, it can also use its network and experience with companies to develop industy 4.0 applications for the issues from the market. In this project, Breda Robotics aims to further develop its own expertise and field lab on the specific themes of agro food and food processing. By doing so, Breda Robotics contributes to all specific objectives.

Avans University of Applied Sciences is a broad university of applied sciences with courses in a variety of fields such as computer science, economics, nursing, art, architecture, mechatronics, business administration and so on. In addition, Avans is also a knowledge institute with several expertise centres. In this project, Avans University of Applied Sciences wants to bring in its knowledge and expertise in applied research Lecturers and researchers from the Expertise Centre for Technical Innovation and lecturer-researchers from ATIx, the Academy for Technology and Innovation (and co-creation: ‘x’).
Particularly from the Robotisation and Sensoring knowledge group, expertise will be brought in and support given to projects through applied research in the field of robotics, mechatronics, artificial intelligence, vision/image recognition, modelling and prototyping in (field) labs. In doing so, Avans contributes to objectives1, 2, 4, 5 and 6.

BEMAS, Belgian Maintenance Association vzw, is a platform for the exchange of knowledge and good practices in maintenance and asset management. BEMAS helps asset-intensive organisations on their way to world-class management and maintenance of technical installations. This includes a number of large food processing companies. BEMAS contributes to achieving objectives 1, 2, 5 and 6.

Boerenbond is the professional organisation for agricultural entrepreneurs in Flanders and East Belgium. Boerenbond represents, shapes, innovates, connects and advises its 16,000 members with the aim of a robust and sustainable agriculture and horticulture sector. Especially their knowledge of and network in the Agro Food sector is of great importance to the project. Boerenbond contributes to achieving objectives 1, 2 and 6.

As a Flemish strategic innovation platform, Flanders' FOOD encourages companies in the food industry to innovate by offering knowledge and inspiration, project-based knowledge development, advice and partner matching. They support food companies in initiating, developing and implementing innovations in food products, production systems and new business concepts. In particular, their knowledge and network in the food processing industry is of great importance to the project. Flanders' Food contributes to achieving objectives 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6.

Flanders Make is the strategic research centre for the manufacturing industry with more than 750 researchers. From their various locations all over Flanders, they stimulate open innovation through high-quality research in various fields including (semi-)autonomous work functions in agriculture / agri-food. They have experience in collaborating with companies on customised issues and offer an extensive range of testing and validation infrastructure for testing and validating autonomous work vehicles. In this project, they mainly contribute their expertise and knowledge of autonomous work vehicles, with modularity and cooperation between these vehicles being central. Flanders Make contributes to the achievement of all specific objectives.

Fontys-GreenTechLab (FGTL) a research and technology group of Fontys University of Applied Sciences Venlo, which answers technical questions within the Agro, Food, logistics and industry working field by conducting research, process analysis, engineering, prototyping and consultancy, in the context of High Tech Systems and Materials. On a project basis, they answer problems in co-creation with regional industry. FGTL is a multidisciplinary R&D team with a background in mechatronics, mechanical engineering, software, process engineering and industrial product design. They specialise in applying robotics, vision, (soft) grippers, AI, machine learning, deep learning and digital twins in automation issues. With this expertise, they contribute to objectives 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6.

High Tech NL is the industry association of and for innovative Dutch high-tech companies and knowledge institutions. High Tech NL is committed to the collective interest of the sector, with a focus on long-term innovation. Members share their knowledge, seek cooperation and use its powerful network to innovate more successfully. And operates under the brands Holland Robotics, Holland Semiconductors and High Tech Nl. In this project, High Tech NL particularly brings in their network of Higtech companies. High Tech NL contributes to achieving objectives 1, 2 and 6.

The Institute for Agricultural, Fisheries and Food Research (ILVO) is a scientific institution of the Flemish government and conducts policy-supporting and knowledge-building scientific research aimed at sustainable agriculture and fisheries in economic, ecological, social and societal perspectives. ILVO profiles itself as a research partner that strongly believes in multidisciplinary research with both academic and industrial partners. In particular, they bring to this project their knowledge and network from the living lab Agrifood Technology focused on innovative and sustainable agricultural and agri-food systems, with strong expertise in mechanisation, automation and data processing. And their expertise to develop on a co-creative and multi-stakeholder approach. Developed prototypes and sensors are optimised in an iterative way by repeatedly testing and validating in field-relevant conditions. This approach realises a more efficient development process that takes more account of end-user requirements in order to increase the adoption of technological innovations with added value in terms of efficiency and sustainability in practice. In particular, ILVO contributes to achieving objectives 4, 5 and 6.

Vives University of Applied Sciences specialises in applied scientific research around agriculture and technology. Expertise in agriculture lies mainly in the introduction of new crops and cultivation techniques, soil quality and implementation of Smart Farming techniques. Expertise in technology lies mainly in the field of Autonomous Vehicles (ROS) , Manufacturing Industry and Industry 4.0 applications. Vives will deploy its expertise in field testing, applied research, cocreation and networking for the project, thus contributing to achieving objectives 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6.

Impuls Zeeland, is Zeeland's development company with the aim of strengthening the regional economy and supporting economic development. Impuls does this by connecting businesses and people and carrying out projects in the field of agrofood and food processing, among others. Impuls has a broad network of SMEs, local and regional authorities and fulfils a connecting role between these stakeholders in which it collaborates with the strategic partner FoodDelta Zeeland. The collective knowledge and network of companies in the Agro Food sector is of great importance for the project.
The Agro Food sector has a large share in the Zeeland economy. Companies from the entire value chain are present in the province: cultivation, processing, processing, packaging, storage and transhipment, transport and product sales. Zeeland also has a unique aquaculture sector; for example, shellfish farming, fishing, fish farming on land and saline crops (including seaweed, glasswort). Important themes and issues for the agri-food and aquaculture sector in Zeeland concern the protein transition (from plant to animal and from land to sea), utilisation of residual and waste streams, robotics and digitalisation (including smart farming) and sustainable packaging.
In particular, Impuls contributes to achieving objectives 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6.

Inagro, an autonomous agency of the Province of West Flanders (Belgium), is a research and advisory centre for agriculture and horticulture. Geographically, Inagro is located in the highly intensive and innovation-driven agricultural and horticultural heart of this province. Inagro's core activities are delivering science-based practical research and transferring knowledge to stakeholders in the agricultural sector. Intensive cooperation with stakeholders enables the implementation of research results.
Inagro has a lot of expertise regarding the three formulated challenges around smart farming. As a specialist in small crops, Inagro monitors various crops, including their innovative, applied treatment techniques, both on its own trial fields and on trials carried out by various growers. Inagro also has a wide network of supplying agribusiness companies with which it develops new techniques.
Inagro particularly contributes to achieving objectives 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6.

ZLTO, Southern Agriculture and Horticulture Organisation is an association of and for 12,000 farmers and horticulturists in Zeeland, North Brabant and South Gelderland. It is committed to the continuity of the sector and future prospects for farmers and market gardeners. The association is also a link between farmers and market gardeners, the government, business and society. It also pools members' strengths, stimulates cooperation and innovation in agriculture and horticulture and contributes to solving social issues of today and tomorrow. Within ZLTO, farmers and horticulturists operate four teams, namely advocacy, programmes (projects), business advisors of real estate.