November 2025 HollandDoor Cooperative U.A. hosted a five-day digital agriculture study tour for delegates from the World Bank, the Government of India and the Gogvernment of Maharashtra. The tour offered a farm-to-fork view of how the Dutch agri-food system integrates digitalisation, logistics and public-private partnerships.
The programme began at BASF | Nunhems, where data-driven seed breeding and phenotyping underpin climate-resilient horticulture. This was followed by visits to the World Horti Center, Greenport West-Holland and the Dutch Greenhouse Delta, where the delegation explored how growers, technology companies, knowledge institutes and government bodies collaborate in tightly organised clusters. Shared infrastructure, digital climate control and coordinated logistics illustrated how productivity and sustainability are managed at system level rather than individual farm level.
The role of logistics in achieving precision in horticulture was highlighted during visits to commercial growers Van Amerongen CA Technology and Rotterdam Fruit Wharf. Controlled-atmosphere storage systems showcased how fruit can be kept fresh for up to twelve months with continuous sensor-based monitoring, while delegates saw how data-driven logistics is used at Rotterdam Fruit Wharf to move fresh produce from ships to European markets within hours of docking, preserving quality and reducing losses.
A full day in Ede and Wageningen linked practical knowledge to policy, research and education. Sessions with FoodX, Wageningen University & Research, NPEC and ISRIC highlighted how digital agriculture draws on data platforms, phenotyping, robotics and soil information systems and how these are embedded in public-private partnerships.
The tour concluded at Kitchen Republic in Amsterdam, where food startups such as Favamole demonstrated how circular thinking and market-driven innovation continue beyond the farm gate.
Throughout the week, the Dutch approach made it clear that digital agriculture is not solely about technology but also about structuring value chains, managing data and fostering collaboration to deliver consistent quality and sustainability. These insights offered practical inspiration designed to support India’s efforts to boost smallholder incomes and build more resilient agri-food systems.
“The study tour was a resounding success, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have participated. The knowledge and insights gained will contribute to my professional growth and inform my work in the agricultural sector.” - Vijay Singh, Director, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Government of India
For more information, please contact Cedric van Oene
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