The success of two years of 'LimburgAgrofood'

Province of Limburg and LIOF introduced 'LimburgAgrofood' two years ago, a program to boost the agri-food sector in Limburg. And with success. In the past two years, some two hundred entrepreneurs have been helped with advice, a network and financing. Nieuwe Oogst

Development program

"You have to see 'LimburgAgrofood' as a coherent development program. Our support is mainly focused on innovations and strengthening the competitive position of a company," explains Frans Broeders, Sector Developer Agrofood of LIOF. "We identify market and technology opportunities and social needs. Then we inform entrepreneurs. We initiate innovations with them on those opportunities and needs and help them along the way, from idea to realization."

In addition, the team of 'LimburgAgrofood' offers help in translating an innovative product or service into a business plan. "We put our knowledge to work with entrepreneurs to see how they can put together the most promising business plan possible."

Agreement

"The similarity between all entrepreneurs who are actively engaged in innovation is that they want to take their company and the sector to the next level," Broeders continued. According to the Sector Developer Agrofood, a large number of initiatives are strongly linked to developments such as robotization, big data and Internet of Things.

"Partly through these new and cross-sectoral developments, the entrepreneurs contribute to relevant social themes, such as circular agriculture and healthy and sustainable food."

Project 'Food Value'

A good example of responding to relevant social themes is the 'Food Value' project, which LIOF initiated with Top-Zuid. The latter is a partnership of four North Limburg grower associations to combat waste in the food chain.

"Top-Zuid focuses on the further development of products and services and increasing added value. This project is also implemented jointly with other regional development agencies."

BlockHeating

Another initiative that got off the ground partly thanks to 'LimburgAgrofood' is BlockHeating. This uses residual heat from data centres to heat greenhouses. Jeroen Burks of BlockHeating: "LIOF was the first to believe in my plan and was also the first to offer a piece of financing through the 'LimburgAgrofood' programme.

Another good example is FineField, a company that has developed an automated machine for harvesting blueberries. "In the automated agro market there is a lot to do in the coming years, because it is getting harder and harder to find people to bring in the harvest," says Peter Geurts of FineField. "LIOF helped us in 2019 to enable a pilot at a grower. The results were so positive that this year four machines will be tested independently at four different growers."

Three themes

Between 80 and 90 percent of the projects submitted have a link to three current themes: biocircular, future farming and healthy food. "For entrepreneurs, these are the areas where the most opportunities lie, because they are simultaneously economic opportunities and relevant social transitions for the future," says Broeders.