Precision in the Orchard

Fruit growing in Zeeland faces major challenges. Drought, salinisation and stricter requirements regarding water quality and nutrient losses call for a different way of working. At the same time, sensors, digital models and data-driven management offer new opportunities to use irrigation and fertilisation more intelligently. The Precision in the Orchard project focuses on developing and testing an approach that enables fruit growers to better tailor their water and nitrogen application to the current needs of the soil and crops.
In this project, fruit growers, technology partners and knowledge organisations are joining forces to bring together practical experience, model development and digital applications. Field trials are being conducted at three fruit-growing farms in Zeeland, comparing the grower’s standard approach with a data-driven strategy based on, among other things, sensors, soil measurements and models such as NDICEA and QMS Water. In doing so, we are working on practical solutions that help growers manage water and nutrients more efficiently and be better prepared for climate fluctuations.
The results of the project will be translated into practical tools, such as a user protocol, fact sheets, demonstrations and knowledge sharing via trade media and meetings. Through this collaboration, innovation is not only being developed for the participating farms, but is also being made more widely accessible to other fruit growers in Zeeland and beyond.

Research duration: April 2026 – June 20

This research was carried out in collaboration with:

• Fruitteeltbedrijf F. Govaert-Cammaert
• Mts. van der Meer
• A.M.A. Steijn en C.A. Bal
• VGB Watertechniek B.V.

The co-implementers in this project are:

• Delphy
• Louis Bolk Instituut
• BAD
• B-Mex
• FarmTree

Research location:

• three fruit-growing businesses in Zeeland