Target Group Pilot 2021
The direct target audience for the pilot in March 2021 consists of 45 Dutch MKB farmers and the proeftuin "Boerderij van de Toekomst" in Lelystad. For each participants we will install at least 2 sensors. Boerderij van de Toekomst in Lelystad will receive 5 sensoren. The selection of agricultural farmers will be based on soil type (pririoty is on farmers with sand soil), high yielding crop types (e.g. potatos and onions) and acreage (>30 ha). For open horticulture we focus on "hard fruit", e.g. apples and pears. In addition to our direct target group we will also involve and monitor farmers who are located right next to the farms in our direct target group. We call this the "comparison group". These farmers will have similar characteristics as our direct target audience, e.g. the same weather conditions, the same crop types and the same soil. The difference is however that the comparison group will not have our technology installed and will continue irrigation as usual; e.g. based on their traditional methods. The goal of this exercise is to compare the results of both irrigation approaches and to establish the quantitative benefits of fact-based irrigation with our technology.