How the FieldMate contributes to optimization of water management at Rijk Zwaan

About Rijk Zwaan
Rijk Zwaan is a seed breeding company dedicated to the development and production of new vegetable crops. The company consists of two main branches: breeding and seed production. "Breeding focuses on developing new vegetable varieties by using advanced breeding techniques. Breeding is a method in which new varieties are developed by making crosses between different parent plants," said Sjoerd. In this way, existing varieties can be optimized. Think of improvements in taste, color, disease resistance and yield. Once a variety has passed the development stage and been extensively researched by breeders, it is tested by growers worldwide. Only the "most successful" varieties end up on the market and on supermarket shelves.

This is where seed production comes in. After all, commercial varieties must be produced in large numbers so that growers worldwide can grow these varieties on a large scale. In a number of countries around the world, at its own production sites, Rijk Zwaan produces these seeds.

Sjoerd Rombout's role within Rijk Zwaan
Sjoerd Rombout works as an Agronomist at Rijk Zwaan, he fulfills a crucial role within Breeding Operations. "My role focuses on identifying areas of improvement and techniques to ensure consistency in breeding trials, ranging from soil quality and irrigation to crop protection," for this Sjoerd uses SmartFarm's FieldMate sensors. Within breeding, it is important to keep environmental factors as uniform as possible. From soil type, to irrigation, to spraying and everything else involved in cultivation. Sjoerd guides the Field Managers (growers) in achieving this goal.

How are the FieldMate sensors deployed? 
Currently, irrigation is based on the experience and intuition of the Field Managers. But in view of changing laws and regulations in the future, we know that water is becoming scarcer. "Irrigation must increasingly be able to be justified," the impetus for Sjoerd to begin this project. The FieldMate project is about water management in breeding trials. The idea is to use technology, to help unify water gifting. This is where the FieldMates, with the most accurate measuring devices, come in perfectly handy.

Deploying FieldMates benefits three things:

1. It helps unify environmental factors for the purpose of breeding trials. This is because you take out the human factor.
2. This ensures that water is given only when the plants need it. This prevents unnecessary watering.
3. It allows breeders to closely monitor how varieties react precisely to drought or excessive irrigation, allowing them to make more targeted selections.

What is the experience with the FieldMates?
The project started for the first time this year, but last year's pilot gave rise to this project. Within Rijk Zwaan, the FieldMate is not an unfamiliar technology. It is already widely used in both seed production and breeding. In breeding it is mainly used to collect weather data and disease information, which can then be used to assess varieties. In seed production, production managers use FieldMates to monitor their plots. According to Sjoerd, Spain is a "great example," where a production manager coordinates his field visits based on the FieldMate data. He advises growers on how to use resources and carry out activities based on FieldMate data. If a crop is too wet, he warns everyone not to enter that field because of the risk of Xanthomonas contamination.

The use of the FieldMate sensors in Sjoerd's water management project, within Rijk Zwaan, provides a great example of how modern technologies contribute to sustainable and efficient agricultural practices.  Thus, the FieldMate sensor allows customers to further develop and innovate within the industry to maximize their profitability.