This is how big data will cause a 4.0 bulb revolution | VNO-NCW

By: VNO-NCW
19-04-2019

‍

‍Track & trace in the bulb shed plus a digital dashboard to view each other in the cold store and post photos? It almost sounds like tindering for tulips. But if it's up to Annika Versloot, these go two big data projects by the trade association KAVB are causing a bulb revolution 4.0.

‍

Isn't track & trace in a bulb shed a bit of an exaggeration?

“In our sector, you have cold stores with hundreds to thousands of cubic boxes. A bulb grower wants to know where his business is. Some batches have already been sold in advance, so it is nice to see at a glance what is where and for whom these bulbs are intended. And when you export, you want to know what happens to the cargo along the way. In that regard, that cooling shed is just the logistics center of a supermarket. '

‍

And a dashboard to post photos of your bulbs?

'In a cold store, it is important that temperature and humidity are measured. The bulbs are stored there for part of the season and a lot can happen. For example, an acid can develop that affects the bulbs. That is a tough guy, a headache file that can cause major financial damage. The dashboard is designed to let growers share and compare their measurement results with colleagues, and if you have a question, you can post a photo of the problem right away. Dates sharing is simply more fun when you can also communicate with each other. '

“DATA SCIENCE IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT, EVEN FOR BULB GROWERS”

‍

Why do you actually do those pilots?

“If trade association we want to do more than just set preconditions and product requirements, we represent interests in the broadest sense of the word for the sector. Sustainable and vital cultivation in the future is a real priority. From time to time, we also have to be the eyes that look over the dike. In neighboring sectors such as agriculture and animal husbandry, we see that data sciencetakes off enormously. That also comes to bulb growers; for some companies, it's already there. We want to impress that on the minds of our supporters. '

‍

Can't companies figure out what's good for them?

“Our reputation is very strong internationally, but we are actually only a small sector with 1,630 companies and 17,000 jobs. There are very large ones in between and companies that have come a long way. Some growers like to collect that and do it by flying drones over their fields, but there are also those who still write on wooden cube boxes with crayons. We want to help them get over the threshold. There will be a younger generation coming up that has grown up with smartphones and Apple programs, and you need to be ready for that as a sector. '

The 'ordinary' farmer is increasingly becoming a data process manager. The bulb farmer soon too?

What do the growers actually think of your plans?

“For some growers, data science is still quite high left. Many people find it difficult to share data, but they still feel they are giving away sensitive business information. With these projects, we want to show that it is possible and useful. I notice that there are also entrepreneurs who want to, but do not know how. They are very enthusiastic. That's why I'm also glad that a major international company like JUB Holland wants to join. They are already at the forefront of innovation and they believe in the added value of transparency. '