Please choose one workshop per session. Let us know which one in the registration form: -> https://event.wur.nl/153383/subscribe?survey_id=168244
We will try to divide you in your workshops of preference as much as possible, but we cannot guarantee this if there’s a great interest in a workshop.
Session 1 (14:30 – 15:10)
- Farmer data space | By Corné Kempenaar, Fedde Sijbrandij and Johan Booij
How can farming become more sustainable by using data of Farm Data Spaces in an easier, in control, less time-consuming and cost-effective way? Data is then used for better crop management, and can be shared with chain partners, authorities and knowledge institutes for benchmarking, chain optimization, accounting and new knowledge. In the workshop we address the diversity of solutions in the market, the challenges farmers have, solutions being developed (in AGROS) and the need for a more farmer-centric approach, with the principles of the new Code of Conduct on Field Crops Data Use as a base.
- Smart sensing: combining sensors and intelligence | By Ilias Tsafaras
Reliable, robust sensors that provide continuous and automated data on climate, substrate and crop are essential in control of production systems. In this workshop, we discuss how to determine crucial processes, find the right sensors to measure these, and how to incorporate these in control systems. Sensors can be combined with intelligence, “soft sensors” to ensure reliable data allowing data-driven control.
- Disease detection and weed control in arable farming | By Jan Kamp and Bram Veldhuisen
In arable farming disease control in seed potatoes takes a lot of effort. Also volunteer potato control after warm winters is very labour intensive. For both situations a vision based solution has been developed that shows a high performance in practical trials. By combining this type of solutions with spot sprayers, high reduction in crop protection product use is possible. We have developed a model that can predict this reduction based on weed intensity in the field, the type of chemical and nozzle distance. The process and results will be shared.
Session 2 (15:40 – 16:20)
- Energy/smart grid solutions in arable and dairy farming | By Andries Visser
How can energy production on a farm be used to make farm operations more sustainable? What business models with renewable energy are possible despite the limited capacity of our energy grid? In this workshop, we will present and discuss possible applications for renewable energy such as the production of hydrogen to replace diesel, matching your own energy use with own energy production, the importance of the combination of solar PV and wind energy.
- Intelligent control of greenhouse production systems: balancing costs and benefits | By Feije de Zwart and Guido Jansen
The AGROS project is working towards autonomously controlled cultivation in cucumbers. In this workshop, you will be updated on the strategies we developed to control the greenhouses remotely based on a pre-defined goal function, which are a mechanistic-model-based Digital Twin, and an artificial intelligence algorithm based on Reinforcement Learning. Results will be compared with a reference, based on growers’ experience and a cultivation plan.
- Detection and intelligent control of diseases | By István Fodor, Estuardo Hernandez Olenski and Kirsten Leiss
Disease detection and control are important in all sectors. However, how to measure and control differs. In dairy cattle, a growing body of evidence suggests that the potential applications of breath analysis go beyond monitoring methane emissions. In greenhouses, we are currently working on digital crop protection, where pests and diseases are detected via vision technology, detection of volatiles and electrophysical sensors. Results of these cases will be presented and discussed in this workshop.
Session 3 (16:20 – 17:00)
- Future scenario’s | By Ellen Bulten and Herman Schoorlemmer
Transition pathways enable us to explore sustainable futures and strengthen strategic decision making. Three diverging future scenarios of smart mixed cropping systems will be presented: 1) ‘Data for convenience’ with the big tech in the lead of the transformation; 2) ‘Ecology at the wheel’ with an ecology-based transformation and 3) ‘Crisis forces action’ with top-down climate crisis management as important characteristic. Starting from these future visions, transition pathways have been described with ‘breakthrough’ moments that outline how we got from the current situation to the future vision resulting in action perspectives for researchers, farmer representatives, policy makers or engineers.
- Vision technology: monitoring cows and cucumbers | By Bart van Marrewijk and Marjaneh Taghavi
Computer vision is increasingly used in dairy farming, with applications ranging from detecting health events to the detailed monitoring of cow behaviour. In horticulture, a computer vision system is developed for plant traits that are now manually collected as input for a sustainable data-driven cultivation system. Results of both approaches are presented, and similarities and learnings are discussed.
- Proving compliance with legislation and improving sustainability | By Corne Kempenaar and Jos Tielen – panel discussion
Farms have to reduce adverse side effects of their farming. Authorities and chain partners ask for environmental performance indicators of their production. Many new technologies adopted by farmers lead to less side effects, but do not increase the income of farms. In this workshop we elaborate on environmental performance indicators applied in AGROS. We will show outcome of BMA-KPI (biodiversity measuring tool) and EIR (environmental impact reduction tool) calculations for the farm of the future location. We will discuss how use of green products like Serenade, a product studied in AGROS, will effect the outcome of the calculations. And we will discuss how farms can be rewarded for their efforts to produce more sustainable. Workshop participants are invited to share their experience with Environmental impact indicators, such as the Cool Farm Tool.