Dutch Agricultural Innovation Hub Forced to Close After Funding Rejection
Lelystad, Wednesday, 17 December 2025.
The Future Farm research facility that attracted thousands of international visitors will temporarily shut down in 2026 due to government funding cuts. The pioneering agricultural research project, which has been testing cutting-edge farming solutions since 2020, was denied subsidies because of competition from similar initiatives nationwide.
Research Project Loses Government Backing
The Boerderij van de Toekomst (Future Farm) in Lelystad, operated by Wageningen University & Research (WUR), will temporarily close its doors in 2026 after being denied government subsidies by the Dutch Enterprise Agency (RVO) [1][2]. The research facility, located on Edelhertweg in Lelystad, Flevoland, has been operating since 2020 as a testing ground for innovative agricultural solutions [1][2]. WUR researcher Pieter de Wolf, who founded the project in 2020, expressed disappointment over the forced pause, stating that when the subsidy application was rejected, researchers hoped to find alternative financing but were unsuccessful [1][2]. The government cited too much competition from similar initiatives as the reason for rejecting the funding application [2].
Global Recognition Despite Financial Struggles
Over the past five years, thousands of visitors from around the world have traveled to Lelystad to witness how future agriculture might look [2]. The facility has served as a crucial link between practical farming and research, where scientists develop and test innovative solutions for future-proof agriculture [2]. According to de Wolf, these innovations are often too risky or expensive for farmers to implement directly in practice, making the Future Farm an essential testing ground to understand what works, what doesn’t, and where the limitations lie [2]. The project was originally designed to run for 15 years, but will now be interrupted after only six years of operation [1][2]. As de Wolf noted, “You’re not even halfway through and then it has to stop. Then you can actually draw few conclusions” [1][2].
Temporary Shutdown and Future Prospects
The 20-hectare test field was sown with grain on Tuesday as a cover crop to prevent soil stress during the pause [1][2]. This temporary shutdown means that innovative agricultural methods will be put on hold for a year, though specific research projects on the same site, such as strip cropping and crop protection trials, have their own funding and will continue [1][2]. De Wolf emphasized that this pause is not a threat or pressure tactic against The Hague, but rather “an inevitable reality” that signals the need for government and sector investment in innovation [2]. The researchers hope to secure funding from the Ministry of Agriculture in 2026 to restart operations in 2027 [1][2]. The permanent driving paths in the field will remain intact so machinery can resume work if funding becomes available [2].
Strategic Importance Amid National Innovation Push
The closure comes at a time when agricultural innovation is gaining national attention. Former ASML CEO Peter Wennink’s advisory report ‘De route naar toekomstige welvaart,’ presented on December 12, 2025, specifically highlighted the importance of AI and robotics in agriculture, with a significant role noted for Wageningen University and Research’s Future Farm in Lelystad [4][5]. The report emphasizes strengthening the Netherlands’ earning capacity and international competitiveness to address challenges in healthcare, education, climate, and defense [4][5]. Flevoland province has positioned itself as “Wennink-ready,” working on programs for entrepreneurs in digitalization and AI, robotics and AI applications in agrifood, and innovative energy solutions [5]. The province is seeking pilot province status from the government and aims to contribute to solving grid congestion with its surplus of sustainable energy [4][5].