Innovative Event Encourages Farmers Towards Sustainable Practices
Apeldoorn, Monday, 31 March 2025.
The Innovatie Coöperatie’s event in Apeldoorn on March 31, 2025, aids farmers in overcoming sustainability obstacles, like time and funding, with solutions including networking and financial access.
Bridging Innovation Gaps in Agriculture
The agritech-focused event, hosted at Reesink Agri in Apeldoorn, showcases several groundbreaking sustainable farming initiatives [1]. Among the highlighted innovations is Grassa, a revolutionary technique that extracts valuable proteins from grass for both animal feed and human consumption, demonstrating the potential for dual-purpose agricultural solutions [1]. The event represents one of two annual gatherings organized by the Innovatie Coöperatie, with sessions alternating between the Achterhoek and Stedendriehoek regions [1].
Success Stories and Practical Solutions
A notable success story presented at the event is the cultivation of oil pumpkins, spearheaded by entrepreneur Gert Smits. The initiative has witnessed remarkable growth, expanding from 5 to 65 hectares in just three years, while establishing a robust supply chain connecting to bakeries [1]. Another innovative solution showcased is De Pantry, an unmanned 24/7 farm shop utilizing QR code technology for seamless consumer transactions [1].
Sustainable Infrastructure and Support
The event demonstrates practical applications of sustainable farming, including a previous project in the Achterhoek region where farmers cultivated hemp, grain, and elephant grass to construct a fully biobased pavilion [1]. The initiative also addresses critical environmental challenges, with Jong Gelre Heerde-Wapenveld presenting collaborative efforts to develop sustainable solutions for agricultural plastic recycling [1].
Future-Focused Agricultural Support
The Innovatie Coöperatie’s approach focuses particularly on supporting entrepreneurs during crucial innovation phases, stepping in ‘when entrepreneurs are at risk, still have no certainty about the result - but do have the will to innovate’ [1]. With technical support from partners like Reesink Agri, which assists farmers with specialized solutions such as hemp cultivation [1], the initiative creates a comprehensive support network for agricultural innovation [GPT].