Have you ever imagined that technology can turn agriculture in a small country like the Netherlands into a role model in the world? In this article, we will look at how the Netherlands managed to become the second largest exporter of agricultural products in the world, despite its limited agricultural land. We will take you on a tour inside the largest Dutch farms, in which we will reveal how modern technology is used in agriculture, and learn about the methods of agriculture that we can benefit from in our countries.
The Netherlands: a small country with huge agricultural areas
Although the Netherlands is a small country in terms of area, more than half of its territory is dedicated to agriculture. This high percentage shows how the Netherlands places agriculture at the heart of its economy and even becomes one of the world's leading exporters of agricultural products. But how does the Netherlands achieve this success? Is it because of fertile land and abundant natural resources? In fact, the Netherlands does not have vast agricultural land or large natural resources compared to some countries, but it has been able to make the most of every inch of land using advanced technology.
Agriculture in the Netherlands: greenhouses and advanced technology
When our team visited a Dutch farm, we began our tour of an amazing cucumber farm, where we saw how technology played a big role in improving agricultural production. In winter, when climatic conditions are not favorable for agriculture, Dutch farmers have resorted to the technique of "greenhouses", which are huge areas of greenhouses that allow plants to be grown in ideal climatic conditions throughout the year.
These greenhouses are not just a protected space, they are equipped with the latest technology that controls temperature, humidity, and lighting. These systems are used to provide an ideal environment for crop growth, and also use smart irrigation techniques so that water is used very efficiently, and if there is an increase in the amount of water, it is recycled and used again.
How does the agricultural system work?
While we were on the farm, we saw the use of sophisticated machines such as automated carts that automatically pick crops and transport them through carefully programmed production lines. These carts are not only sophisticated, but also work with technologies connected to mobile applications that monitor every step of the farming. Each agricultural line is numbered, and if any problem occurs in any part of the process, workers can accurately identify it using these applications.
One of the most important innovations we have seen on this farm is the integrated system that ensures efficient water supply. Despite the lack of rain in the Netherlands, crops are irrigated automatically and, in the event of an excess of water, are collected in special pipes for reuse.
Agriculture education in the Netherlands: how to prepare the future?
In the Netherlands, agriculture is not limited to farmers, but also includes education and training in the latest farming methods. During our tour of the Dutch leading university in the field of agricultural engineering, we noticed how students from all over the world receive an outstanding education in agriculture, developing new technologies aimed at improving food production and increasing its efficiency. Within this university, experiments simulate the natural climatic conditions of plants, from rain to extreme climatic conditions, so that students can understand the challenges of agriculture in practice.
The largest pepper plantations in the Netherlands
Continuing our tour, we visited one of the largest pepper farms in the Netherlands, where we saw how farming is done using the latest technological methods. Automatic carts walk between the rows of peppers, pick and pack them, and everything is done automatically and without much human intervention. After the crop is packed, it is transferred to another stage, where it is sorted and packaged automatically as well, to reach the shops with the highest quality.
Why does the Netherlands succeed in farming despite land shortages?
Although the Netherlands lacks large agricultural areas compared to some other countries such as Egypt and Sudan, it exploits every inch of land available to it using advanced technologies. In many other countries, there are fertile lands and natural resources, but they are not optimally exploited. In the Netherlands, they have succeeded in turning challenges into opportunities, using technology innovatively.
Conclusion: Lessons Learned from Dutch Agriculture
In the end, the Netherlands showed us how innovation and technology can solve the problems of agriculture in countries without large agricultural areas. Through the use of technologies such as greenhouses, smart irrigation, and automated technologies, the Netherlands has managed to become the world's second-largest exporter of agricultural products, despite its limited territory.
What we need in our countries is to draw inspiration from these lessons and apply them on the ground. If farmers in the Netherlands can exploit small spaces most efficiently, we can also make better use of our natural resources. I hope that this tour has added you some ideas on how to improve agriculture in our country using modern technology.
Finally, we hope to see similar projects in our countries, and that we all work to improve farming methods to ensure a sustainable food future.
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