Innovation Camps | Netherlands (Completed)
Co-creating practical Smart Crop Farming solutions.
The TECHCOACH Innovation Bootcamp in the Netherlands took place on 3 April 2026 at Aeres University of Applied Sciences in Dronten. The full-day event brought together farmers, advisors, researchers, machinery manufacturers and other actors from across the Smart Farming ecosystem. With farmers forming the largest participant group, the Bootcamp focused on practical barriers to Smart Farming adoption and on developing solutions with farmers rather than for farmers
Date
3 April 2026
Location
Dronten, Netherlands
Language
Dutch
Focus challenges
Three main themes had been identified together with farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs prior to the Bootcamp. These formed the basis of the group discussions during the day.
- How can farmers and horticulturalists make large amounts of available precision-agriculture data accessible and practical for their own business operations?
- How can farmers and horticulturalists be supported in interpreting and using large amounts of agricultural data?Ideas to make existing schemes and services more helpful for SCF uptake.
- How can investments in precision agriculture and Smart Farming technologies be made financially feasible and practically valuable for farmers?
Highlights & outcomes
From Smart Farming challenges to practical discussion
Participants worked in mixed stakeholder groups around the three central themes: data accessibility, data-driven skills and financing/business models. The discussions brought farmers together with advisors, researchers, machinery manufacturers and other stakeholders, allowing challenges to be examined from different perspectives while keeping the agricultural entrepreneur at the centre. A field visit to Aeres Farms complemented the group work, giving participants the opportunity to explore practical applications of Smart Farming technologies. Networking throughout the day also helped strengthen connections between stakeholders.
Why it matters:
One of the strongest outcomes was the positive response to the co-creation approach. Participating farmers highlighted the value of an innovation event in which solutions were developed together with farmers, rather than simply being presented to them. This approach helped increase engagement, strengthen mutual understanding and make the discussions more closely connected to farmers’ real needs and day-to-day decision-making.
How the bootcamp worked
- A full-day multi-actor event brought together stakeholders from across the Smart Farming ecosystem.
- Farmers represented the largest participant group.
- Participants worked in smaller groups around the three main challenge areas.
- Discussions combined the perspectives of farmers, advisors, researchers and technology-related actors.
- Participants visited Aeres Farms to explore practical Smart Farming applications.
- Networking opportunities throughout the day supported further exchange and collaboration.
What’s next
The Dutch Innovation Bootcamp demonstrated the value of combining multi-actor dialogue, practical demonstrations and concrete follow-up activities.
The newly established study group on agricultural data will help continue the exchange initiated during the Bootcamp, while the lessons and outcomes will contribute to the wider TECHCOACH work on supporting the practical uptake of Smart Crop Farming technologies across Europe.