High tech drives high produce yields in Netherlands

World
Europe

The Netherlands is a major agricultural exporter even though it has a land mass of just 42,000 square kilometers. And that, experts say, is because the country pays high attention to technology development.

RedStar, a tomato growing company situated in Lansingerland, western Netherlands, provides a good example of now technology can be used to boost yields.

The company's greenhouses can produce up to 700 tons of high quality tomatoes per week with a yearly revenue exceeding 100 million euros thanks to the use of high technology.

Leo Van Emmerik, greenhouse operations manager of Redstar, said that the Netherlands' weather isn't suitable for growing tomatoes due to long winters and insufficient sunlight. But thanks to innovation, the land can produce at least 30 kilograms of tomatoes and 80 kilograms per square meter.

The Netherlands is also known for using driverless tractors and drones that can measure soil chemistry and other variables in its farm sector.

Government support is substantial. Education and research account for about 20 percent of the country's budget. Highly developed agricultural technology has made Lansingerland one of the most important agriculture bases in the Netherlands.

Important support comes from Wageningen University as well. Qian Tian graduated from the university and is now a Greater China manager at the agricultural tech service in Lansingerland. She said the company has an incubator composed of several greenhouses. This is an important bridge between the universities and companies.

"Wageningen University is in charge of scientific research, we apply the achievements in the greenhouses and do more practical research, and then we promote the practical results to corporations," said Qian.

Government, universities and companies form a synergy in the Netherlands' agricultural development. The government keeps 1,000 hectares of land in Lansingerland for companies to build greenhouses. A developed logistics system also attracts related service companies to the city.