The SIMONE cross-visit in the Netherlands brought together nearly fifty farmers, advisors and experts each day for two immersive days of field-based learning. Hosted at the Van den Borne Campus and co-organised with Inagro, the visit offered an excellent opportunity to explore how data driven innovation, on-farm experimentation and agro ecological practices come together in real cropping systems.
What unfolded was not just a study visit, but a dynamic exchange across borders - a place where farmers compared experiences, partners shared insights from their Living Labs, and technology was tested directly in the field.
A Living Lab in Practice: Inside the Van den Borne Campus
The visit began with a practical tour of the Van den Borne Campus, guided by Jacob van den Borne. Participants explored the infrastructure, technology and philosophy behind this advanced precision farm.
From soil scans and yield maps to variable applications and UAV sensing, the campus demonstrated how data collection and interpretation are woven into daily farm management. The group gained insight into how Van den Borne integrates drones, sensors, satellite imagery and field observations to monitor soil conditions & crop growth, detect variability and support decision-making.
This context set the stage for understanding why the campus is a key partner in SIMONE: it embodies the combination of innovation, experimentation and practical feasibility that the project aims to strengthen across the NWE region.
Field trials and agroecological themes
A central part of the programme was the visit to ongoing field trials linked to crop establishment. Participants examined trials and stood directly in the plots, observed differences and exchanged experiences about what works under their own conditions. The diversity of Living Labs represented - from Belgium, France and Switzerland to the Netherlands - created a unique opportunity to compare approaches.
In addition to the field visit, each Living Lab presented its own on-farm experiments from their respective regions. These presentations highlighted the breath of agroecological strategies being tested across Northwest Europe. This cross regional overview helped participants understand how similar challenges are tackled under different soils, climates and farm structures. A Flemish farmer also shared his experience as an active participant in SIMONE. He explained the trials he has set up on his own farm in collaboration with researchers from Inagro, the practical challenges he encounters, and the insights he gains.
Technology in action: drones, sensors and AI
One of the highlights of the visit was the demonstration of precision agriculture tools. Participants witnessed a live drone flight over the trial fields and learned how imagery is transformed into actionable crop insights.
The presentation of the LITERAL sensor system - which uses image analysis and AI to map crop growth and field variability - sparked lively discussions about data quality, interpretation and practical value. These exchanges showed how digital tools can support on-farm experimentation by making crop responses visible, measurable and comparable.
For many participants, this was a concrete illustration of how SIMONE’s monitoring approach works: combining visual observations, sensor data and digital platforms to evaluate agroecological measures in a consistent, farmer friendly way.
