The Netherlands has once again taken the global lead in agricultural innovation with the launch of the world’s first venture studio dedicated entirely to greenhouse horticulture

The HortiScience Innovation Center (HIC) has officially opened the HIC Venture Studio in Bleiswijk, marking a transformative step in how start-ups focused on sustainable greenhouse solutions are created and supported.

This groundbreaking initiative introduces a new model for systematically building start-ups in a sector under growing pressure to address sustainability, labour shortages, and productivity challenges. According to Loet Rummenie, Director of HIC, the goal is both ambitious and strategic. “We aim to create three new start-ups per year,” he said. “We’ll track the journey from entrepreneur to idea, proposition, and venture – and measure survival rates, funding raised, and speed to commercialisation.”

Over the next three years, HIC will invest €1.15 million into this venture studio, which includes the opening of a cutting-edge demonstration greenhouse. This facility serves as a launchpad where researchers and entrepreneurs can test, showcase, and scale ideas into viable businesses. “What makes this studio unique,” Rummenie added, “is that entrepreneurs retain ownership of their companies and collectively participate in each new business. This gives them a direct incentive to share knowledge, networks, and expertise, while benefiting from shared infrastructure and guidance. In this way, we ensure that innovations reach practice faster and truly create value for the sector.”

The HIC Venture Studio will focus its efforts on six critical themes that define the future of greenhouse horticulture — from energy transition and resilient cultivation systems to circular horticulture, automation, autonomous growing, and future-proof work. These focus areas reflect the most urgent needs of the sector and aim to produce scalable solutions that improve sustainability and efficiency within greenhouses.

Partnerships play a central role in this venture. The studio has already brought on board two strategic partners: Catalyze Group, which helps attract non-dilutive funding, and EP&C, which supports intellectual property strategy and protection. As Rummenie explained, collaboration is at the heart of the studio’s philosophy. “We can only build these startups successfully if we combine knowledge and networks,” he said. “That’s why these partnerships are so important.”

The HIC Venture Studio is supported by some of the Netherlands’ most influential innovation and research institutions, including Wageningen University & Research, Delphy Improvement Center, YES!Delft, StartLife, and the Municipality of Lansingerland. This ecosystem ensures that new ventures have access to scientific expertise, mentorship, and a network of investors and agribusiness leaders. Regional partners like the Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague (MRDH) have also played a crucial role. “The HIC Venture Studio strengthens our region’s innovative capacity,” said Lennart Onvlee of MRDH. “It connects entrepreneurs, knowledge institutions, governments, and companies to accelerate sustainable solutions and boost international visibility.”

Venture studios have long been used to drive progress in industries such as AI, healthcare, and climate technology. Well-known examples include Idealabs, Rocket Internet, Entrepreneur First, and Antler. However, the concept remains relatively new to agriculture. “There are over 1,000 venture studios globally,” Rummenie noted. “Most focus on IT, pharma, or high-tech. There are very few yet dedicated to food and ag.”

By establishing the first of its kind, the Netherlands has set a bold example of how innovation can be systematically nurtured in agriculture. The HIC Venture Studio is more than just a hub for start-ups — it is a growing ecosystem that brings together science, entrepreneurship, and sustainability to cultivate the next generation of greenhouse technologies that will feed the world more efficiently and responsibly.

The poultry farming equipment market is expected to grow steadily over the next decade, rising from a value of US$4.0bn in 2025 to around US$7.1bn by 2035

This reflects a CAGR of 6.0%, driven by increased global demand for efficient, scalable, and sustainable poultry production systems.

As demand for poultry-based protein grows, both developed and developing markets are investing in smarter and more automated systems. Manufacturers are increasingly focusing on solutions that improve feed efficiency, water conservation, hygiene, and biosecurity. The integration of intelligent technologies, such as IoT-enabled monitoring and predictive maintenance, is playing a key role in transforming poultry operations.

In particular, the watering and feeding systems segment is set to dominate the market by product type, accounting for 22.5% of the market share in 2025. These systems are vital for flock health and are now widely adopted in both broiler and layer production. Advanced features like sensor-based regulation and adjustable flow have helped farms reduce waste, cut labour costs, and improve biosecurity.

The chicken segment continues to lead by poultry type, with a projected market share of 65.0% in 2025. Chicken farming remains popular globally due to its fast production cycles, low input costs, and high efficiency. Equipment manufacturers are tailoring solutions to meet the specific needs of chicken farms, especially in export-driven and urban markets. Vertical integration and demand for traceable, high-quality poultry products are also fuelling investment in standardised, scalable equipment for chicken production.

By mode of operation, automatic systems are expected to take the lead, holding a 48.0% share in 2025. Automation is increasingly essential to manage labour shortages, enhance precision, and meet hygiene and welfare standards. Automatic feeding, egg collection, climate control, and waste management systems are now core to modern poultry farms. Integration with digital platforms and data analytics tools further boosts their value in achieving consistent performance and compliance.

Government initiatives in emerging economies are also contributing to market expansion, particularly in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Africa. These initiatives support local farming enterprises and promote automation for increased productivity. At the same time, developed countries are focusing on next-generation farming systems that balance output with sustainability and welfare.

As consumer awareness grows around food safety, animal welfare, and environmental impact, the trend towards cage-free systems and eco-friendly equipment is gaining momentum. With ongoing innovation and rising global demand for poultry products, the poultry farming equipment market is well-positioned for continued expansion.

Van der Waay has unveiled its latest innovation, the Top Cleaner V, a fully autonomous roof-cleaning and coating machine designed to replace the long-standing Safety Cart.

According to the company, this new model marks a major leap forward in greenhouse maintenance, offering improved safety, usability, and flexibility for growers.

Unlike its predecessor, the Top Cleaner V operates entirely on its own, removing the need for an operator to travel along with the machine. It moves through a single gutter, making it compatible with greenhouses of different peak heights and roof designs. With just one button, growers can send the machine to the far end of the greenhouse, where it automatically turns around and returns, neatly retracting the water hose as it goes.

The Top Cleaner V is built from a series of modular components, allowing growers to customise it to match their exact workflows. Whether the job involves brushing glass from ridge to gutter, applying greenhouse coatings, or cleaning gutters, the machine can be configured for any combination of tasks. This makes it a versatile, future-proof solution suitable for a wide range of greenhouse types and operational needs.

Growers can choose from specialised brush sets designed for different peak sizes, a dedicated gutter brush for fast gutter cleaning, and spray booms for accurate coating application. Optional features include a remote-control system for safe ground-level operation, a service platform for smooth movement along the greenhouse façade, a high-pressure pump for water supply, and a portable generator for complete energy autonomy.

Safety has been a key priority in the development of the Top Cleaner V. All rotating parts are fully enclosed, and the machine is designed for easy access when maintenance is required. It can also be placed on a service platform to move conveniently from one peak to the next, provided the greenhouse façade is equipped with a rail system.

Key technical details include a 230 V power supply (compatible with a portable generator), adjustable operating speeds of up to 20 metres per minute, a hose reel that holds approximately 200 metres of ½-inch hose, and a maximum machine weight of around 285 kg depending on configuration. The machine has a wheelbase of 150 cm, offering stability during operation.

Van der Waay highlights the Top Cleaner V’s competitive pricing and high efficiency, noting that the machine can pay for itself quickly. Even a 1% increase in light transmission inside the greenhouse leads directly to a 1% rise in crop production, making clean, well-maintained glass essential for growers aiming to boost yields.

The SoLAR project, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), is entering its second phase, aiming to deepen agricultural resilience and climate transformation in smallholder farming

Launched by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the initiative runs from July 2025 to December 2029 and expands its geographical and thematic focus, now incorporating Ethiopia and Kenya, while continuing its work in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. Building on the success of its first phase (2019–2024), SoLAR looks to scale solar energy solutions for agriculture and position them as a replicable and scalable model for climate-resilient agriculture across the Global South.

In its first phase, SoLAR focused on generating evidence, piloting innovative financing models, and influencing policy to integrate solar-powered irrigation systems (SIPs). These solar pumps have proven effective in mitigating climate impacts by replacing diesel pumps and promoting sustainable groundwater usage. “Across the four South Asian countries, we have seen promising steps toward scaling solar irrigation sustainably and inclusively,” said Darshini Ravindranath, Project Lead and Research Group Leader at IWMI. The project has helped governments in Bangladesh and India integrate solar irrigation into national strategies, while in Nepal, it led to a significant policy shift, including revised subsidy criteria supporting women farmers and smallholders.

Key outcomes include the promotion of gender-sensitive policies, innovative financing such as micro-financing and grants, and the adoption of solar irrigation systems that reduce carbon emissions, conserve groundwater, and support high-value crops. IWMI’s work also extended to grid-connected solar irrigation in Nepal, enabling farmers to sell surplus energy, providing them with additional income streams while promoting responsible groundwater use.

In phase two, SoLAR will expand its reach to East Africa, focusing on scaling solar-powered solutions for irrigation, cooling, and processing. With Kenya and Ethiopia facing climate and energy challenges, the project sees solar technology as a transformative tool for boosting year-round agricultural production and enhancing food security. Muluken Elias Adamseged, Deputy Country Representative at IWMI in Ethiopia, remarked, “Scaling solar-powered irrigation, cooling, and processing can boost year-round production, cut losses and costs, and enhance food security.”

The second phase aims to drive an integrated approach with evidence-based policy design, accelerated funding for solar adoption, enhanced capacity building, and the establishment of Living Labs to test solar solutions in diverse settings. The program will directly benefit smallholder farmers in India, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Ethiopia by improving water and energy security, reducing emissions, and enhancing resilience to climate risks, according to Philippe Sas, Head of Cooperation for SDC in India.