National Field Lab for Precision Farming (National Proeftuin Precisielandbouw)
Project supporting the adoption and integration of precision farming technologies among farmers
Description
The National Field Lab for Precision Farming (NPPL) was launched to promote the adoption of precision farming solutions in the farming community, for which a few farmers were selected each year and provided with assistance in the implementation of such farming solutions. Among the offered solutions were those supporting the precision fertilization of grassland; the identification and protection of bird nests and fauna in grasslands; precision irrigation; weed detection and selective control; variable rate applications of fungicides on potato crops and flower bulbs; and optimized path planning over arable fields. The invited farmers were provided with guidance and support for up to 3 years by independent experts who ensured that any bottlenecks they encountered were quickly resolved. Interested farmers were able to follow the participants' progress on the NPPL website and through demonstrations and on-farm meetings.
Technology
The project has utilized various technological precision agriculture solutions tailored to specific use cases. Autonomous solar energy-powered robots have been used for sowing and hoeing using a Real Time Kinematics Global Positioning System (RTK GPS) to remember the precise location of seeds, after which, the robot could be reassigned to weeding duties, knowing exactly where the seeds are and hoeing around and between them. Among the solutions adopted were: 1) lightweight, fully electric tractors equipped with multiple lifting devices that were able to conduct different tasks in the field with zero emissions, including a robotic tractor-mounted weed puller that can remove everything protruding above the crops across a working width of 6 meters, while the data collected by the sensors mounted on the tractors were shared through open cultivation data exchange; 2) drones employed for weed detection, direct sowing, and disease and pest control operations; 3) robots equipped with cameras and used for targeted spraying based on plant recognition, and with camera technologies that can also determine biomass amounts and adjust the dosage accordingly; 4)smart algorithms based on artificial intelligence (AI) that enhance the precision and efficiency of the spraying machines.
Target
The target beneficiaries of the NPPL project were the farmers who were selected, generally from among medium-sized farms and smallholders, for the implementation of digital precision agriculture solutions. The farmers were supported by experts from Wageningen University & Research, while the digital solutions were sourced from companies in the private sector, whose benefited from the continued provision of tools and maintenance services to farmers after the end of the project. The participants were selected from among the applicants with a serious interest in precision farming and that were considered suitable role models for all other open soil growers in the Netherlands, ensuring that each region was represented. A total of 16 farmers were provided with support under the programme in 2019.
Business model
The Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality has supported the project with EUR 2 million in funding over 4 years.
Impact
The farmers benefited from the implementation of the digital precision agriculture solutions and the support provided by experts, who guided their startup projects for up to 3 years. Other farmers and stakeholders were able to learn from these entrepreneurs by following their progress on the NPPL website, from project-organized events and from published articles. The project sought to facilitate an increase in yields and a reduction in costs, while minimizing the environmental impact of farming and improving food quality by promoting best practices in precision agriculture.
Partners
Rabobank; Province of Flevoland; Proagrica; AERES Hogeschool
Four Betters
Better production
