Horizon international

Why Flevoland serves as a benchmark in smart and sustainable agriculture

In just 80 years, Flevoland has developed into a thriving region that combines urban areas, state-of-the-art arable farming, a diverse business community and a well-developed (knowledge) infrastructure with still ample space for new businesses.

Flevoland provides great locations and room to grow for food and AgriTech companies. It is strategically located in the centre of the Netherlands, the second exporter of agrifood in the world, and setting the example in terms of innovative, sustainable and effective production systems.

Why Agritech companies thrive here

  • Access to Europe’s most advanced arable farming systems
  • A cluster of leading agritech companies and startups
  • Close to various universities and campuses, and partnerships with WUR, Aeres University, and Food Pioneers
  • Europe’s highest concentration of organic farming
  • Strategic location for export-driven food processing

Setting examples and providing solutions

Flevoland is the beating heart of smart arable farming and AgriTech in the Netherlands. We aim to be the location where solutions for global challenges in arable farming and food provision are developed and demonstrated to the world.

Pre-Harvest
From seeds of companies like KWS to satellite-based insights by Geo4A, Flevoland is on the forefront of cutting-edge agricultural technology. The region is known worldwide for the strength of its potato sector.  Global players such as Agrico and Stet have their headquarters and develop strains that are grown all over the planet. This is why Flevoland hosts two of Europe’s largest open field agricultural events: Potato Europe (every 4 years) and AgroTechniek Holland (every 2 years).

Flevoland is also ahead of the curve when it comes to organic farming, with the highest rate of organic production in the Benelux.  The unique composition of the soil in the Flevoland polders makes this an ideal location for experimentation as well.  That’s why Wageningen University & Research (WUR) located their first Farm of the Future here, where scientists and practitioners from around the world can experiment with new growing and harvesting techniques. New techniques are also being developed to support sustainable future fisheries.

Post-Harvest
The Netherlands is a global leader in the mechanisation and digitalisation of agriculture and Flevoland offers an incredibly strong ecosystem for global players in such fields as harvesters, (optical) sorting equipment, processing and hygienic installations and various other aspects of the agrologistic value chain. Innovations on smart agriculture include startups building unique machines to remove beetles from plants in the field to firms designing and implementing complete processing lines. With Agritech companies such as Tolsma Grisnich, Zuidberg and VHM to DT Dijkstra and Omnivent, Flevoland has it all. The regional cluster Innovatiecluster Noordoostpolder is based in the north of Flevoland. The cluster is one of the examples where technological manufacturing companies have joined forces to learn and innovate together.

Food business
With so much happening within the fields of Flevoland, it comes as no surprise that this region also plays a strong role in European food markets with companies like McCain, Yakult, Yellow Chips, Seafood Connection, Plukon, Marfo and Farm Dairy. From processing all those potatoes to shipping onions and other vegetables around the world, food from Flevoland can be found on plates from here to Tokyo.

Approximately more than €5 billion in fresh and frozen fish is processed each year for European and global markets. Dairy products, plant-based dairy alternatives and hybrid innovative products are developed and produced in the heart of Flevoland. With more than 140 million consumers within 500 km, Flevoland is an ideal location for value-added food industries.

So what are you waiting for?