The agribusiness is of great economic importance in the German-Dutch border region. Companies in the sector see a
high need for innovation to find solutions to local and global challenges.
Therefore, in the “Agropole Innovates” project four German-Dutch teams are developing solutions to current challenges:
- evaluating organic substances from insect production as potential fertilisers and soil improvers,
- reducing the use of pesticides through early detection of diseases and pests in tree nurseries,
- developing learning algorithms and using AI to be able to react earlier to the dangers of plant diseases, and
- increasing animal welfare, resource efficiency and food safety through more transparency in pig farming.
The innovation platform is the connecting element between the innovation projects. It promotes the transfer of
experience and knowledge between the project partners, to stakeholders who are researching these topics within and
outside the region, as well as to all interested companies that want to implement the results. This creates a systemic
information transfer in which all actors in the triple helix learn and benefit from each other and which brings scientific
knowledge into practice.
The innovation platform strengthens the innovative capacity of the agribusiness sector by additionally promoting the
transfer of knowledge on many other topics in the field of agribusiness. Research and educational institutions are
involved, the potential of students is used and companies and institutions are getting into direct exchange. In this way,
scientific knowledge is implemented more quickly by the economy and science recognises the challenges faced by
companies. Focused measures to attract and retain skilled workers strengthen companies and are an important
precondition for the required changes.
