Project Duration and Funding
Het AgriTech Innovation-TreeDigital start op 1 maart 2026 en eindigt op 28 februar 2029. Het wordt uitgevoerd als onderdeel van het Interreg VI Duitsland-Nederland programma en wordt medegefinancierd met 1,944 miljoen euro door de Europese Unie, het Nederlandse Ministerie van Economische Zaken (EZK), de MWIKE NRW en de Provincie Limburg en de Provincie Noord-Brabant. Het project heeft een totaalbudget van ongeveer 3,4 miljoen euro. Ongeveer 1,5 miljoen hiervan wordt gefinancierd door de tien projectpartners zelf. More information can be found at: https://deutschland-nederland.eu/
Project Objective
The aim of the project is to simplify and accelerate the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the agri-business sector within the German–Dutch border region through product development and supporting knowledge transfer activities. By developing a practical, application-oriented digital tool, the project will strengthen both the efficiency and competitiveness of participating businesses.
The tool supports resource-efficient production by providing relevant information at an early stage, enabling timely and effective measures, for example in the use of crop protection products or water. This results in improved product quality, reducing losses and waste. At the same time, more accurate predictions of plant development enhance strategic decision-making and strengthen businesses’ competitive position. In addition, an integrated voice-controlled module supports crop-specific documentation requirements and makes the technology easier to use in the agricultural sector, further reinforcing the market position of participating companies.
Project Description
With its extensive network of businesses throughout the agricultural and horticultural supply chains, the agri-business sector is an important economic pillar of the German–Dutch border region. To safeguard the competitiveness and future resilience of these businesses, it is essential to increase efficiency while conserving valuable resources. Digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and robotics can make a significant contribution to achieving these goals. Within the Interreg project AgriTech Innovation – TreeDigital, a creative ecosystem is being developed in which people, technologies, and ideas come together to drive innovation. This will position the German–Dutch border region as a leading hub for the development of innovative agricultural technologies with an impact that extends well beyond the region itself.
As a practical demonstration of the sector’s innovative potential, the project is developing an automated digital decision-support system that combines sensor data, drone imagery, and practical expertise from growers to monitor the vitality of tree nursery crops. The collected data is analysed to identify patterns, and machine-learning algorithms transform these insights into practical decision-support tools for growers. The project focuses particularly on integrating multispectral drone imagery, which is automatically analysed, together with the development of an automatic speech-processing module that enables growers to easily record observations and field information.
Alongside the technological developments, the project includes an extensive programme of knowledge transfer, communication, and regional outreach on digitalisation within agriculture, horticulture, and the food sector. The objective is to create a creative ecosystem in which knowledge of digital technologies is widely shared, accelerating digital transformation, lowering barriers to adoption, and making innovation more accessible for businesses throughout the region.
