The Benelux observatory, a vital component of the 4Growth project, sets its primary focus on the Flanders region while expanding its influence across Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. At the helm are the Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (ILVO) and Wageningen Economic Research, leveraging their comprehensive expertise in agrifood advancements and leading role in European digital innovation ecosystem.
ILVO’s mission is rooted in promoting sustainable agriculture, resilient food systems, and robust rural environments through scientific excellence and practical applications in real farming conditions. As a leader in agricultural and food research, ILVO operates several Living Labs, including one dedicated to agrifood technology, that facilitate real-world testing of innovative digital technologies and foster collaboration between researchers, farmers, and technology providers. The Digital Innovation Hub DIH4Agrifood also plays a crucial role, offering resources and a cooperative platform to catalyse digital transformation within the sector. ILVO’s strong network enables it to champion the adoption of innovative technologies, addressing the unique needs of stakeholders throughout Flanders and the wider Benelux region. Through research initiatives spanning precision agriculture to digital farming platforms, ILVO generates critical insights that inform both policymaking and innovation strategies and brings significant added value to the Observatory, ensuring that the adoption of digital technologies is not only monitored but actively accelerated across the region.
Wageningen Economic Research is dedicated to advancing sustainable development and robust economic performance in agriculture, food systems, and rural areas through data-driven research and innovative methodologies. As part of Wageningen University & Research, it bridges science and practice by integrating economic analyses with cutting-edge technologies like data science and artificial intelligence. Wageningen Economic Research operates in close collaboration with stakeholders across the agri-food chain worldwide, leveraging Living Labs and multi-stakeholder platforms to co-create solutions that address complex societal challenges such as climate change, food security, and sustainability. Its expertise in scenario analysis, policy evaluation, and market dynamics empowers decision-makers at both national and international levels. Through numerous initiatives and partnerships in digital innovation, Wageningen Economic Research provides critical insights and tools to support evidence-based policymaking and foster transformative innovation in the Dutch agrifood complex and beyond.
The Benelux region encounters distinct challenges that influence the adoption and monitoring of digital technologies in agriculture:
Farmer Well-Being and Technology Adoption: A notable challenge is the prevailing dissatisfaction among farmers, indicated by low well-being scores. Policies such as the nitrogen decree foster uncertainty, making farmers hesitant to adopt new technologies that may come with additional costs or risks.
Administrative Burden: Farmers contend with significant administrative demands, diverting attention from their core activities. Digital platforms like DjustConnect aim to simplify data exchange and reduce paperwork, but trust issues linger. Many farmers remain wary about data-sharing, concerned about potential misuse or uncertain benefits.
Economic Constraints: Economic limitations further impact technology uptake. Low compensation for agricultural work restricts farmers’ financial capacity to invest in new tools. In Flanders, farmer incomes fall short compared to other sectors, highlighting systemic challenges that deter investment in innovation.
Land Use and Urbanisation: High population density and urbanisation in parts of the Benelux region create competition for land use, affecting the scalability of agricultural technologies. This drives the need for decentralised farming models spread across smaller plots.
Digital Infrastructure: Inconsistent digital infrastructure, especially in rural areas, poses barriers to deploying digital tools effectively. Ensuring equitable access to reliable digital connectivity remains essential for widespread adoption.
The observatory’s ecosystem comprises a diverse set of stakeholders, including large-scale agricultural enterprises, small and medium-sized farms, government agencies, research institutions, and technology providers. This multifaceted network underpins collective efforts to accelerate digital technology adoption across the region.
ILVO and Wageningen Economic Research will employ a comprehensive data collection strategy involving surveys, video call interviews, and on-site visits. The observatory has already identified key agri-tech stakeholders and will collaborate with them to gather qualitative insights. This approach ensures a deep understanding of technology adoption trends.
ILVO and Wageningen Economic Research always aim to deliver lasting value to the Flemish and broader Benelux agrifood ecosystem. By the project’s end, the observatory seeks to:
These initiatives will empower the observatory to not just monitor but actively foster the uptake of digital innovations, driving sustainable growth in the Benelux agrifood sector.
Cover image: Djust-E: The first electric, autonomous driving tractor in Flanders (Credit: ILVO)
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