Gourmet is one of the leading companies in the cultivation of shallots, onions and garlic in the Netherlands. With an area of approximately 800 hectares, Gourmet plays a major role in the Dutch and German markets. Innovation and efficiency are therefore indispensable. Gourmet therefore decided to implement iCrop of AppsforAgri. Cultivation supervisor Evert Bakker talks about the challenges they had for using iCrop, why they chose iCrop and what benefits it has brought them.
A growing company with big ambitions as well as obstacles
Gourmet is known for its expertise and high-quality products, shallots, onions and garlic, supplied mainly to retailers in the Netherlands and Germany. Evert Bakker, cultivation supervisor at Gourmet, together with his team provides guidance to growers and ensures the quality of cultivation and the final product. Before implementing iCrop, Gourmet was using its own cultivation application, but it did not meet its needs. “It was a bit of a tinker and the system was often unstable. We noticed that data logging was laborious and frequently gave problems,” Evert explains.
There were also challenges around compliance with laws and regulations, especially in the use of crop protection products. Different retailers use different standards for crop protection, which created complexity and time-consuming administration. Evert continues: “Without reliable digital support, it was a challenge to keep track of all these regulations and make sure we met all the requirements. A mistake could lead to a recall and we wanted to minimize that risk as much as possible.”
The decisive choice for digital transformation
To improve their processes and reduce risk, Gourmet chose iCrop from AppsforAgri. Evert explains why this choice fell on iCrop: “We looked at several options and iCrop best suited our needs. The system is flexible, reliable, the ability to capture data centrally and is specifically designed for the agricultural sector.”
In addition to reliability, the user-friendly interface and customizable modules were decisive. “The fact that we can customize the platform to our own wishes and needs provides us with the flexibility we need in our work and thus fits our business seamlessly.”
The first steps: a smooth implementation with customized support
According to Evert, the implementation of iCrop went smoothly, thanks in part to the guidance from AppsforAgri. Evert explains, “The AppsforAgri team stood by us throughout the process. That made it easy for us to make the switch and quickly use the benefits of iCrop.” Although iCrop has only been fully operational at Gourmet for one season, the system has already proven its worth. “In the coming season, we plan to further integrate iCrop and give our growers access to their observations and data in the system.”
“Thanks to iCrop, we have a reliable system for data collection and regulatory compliance. This allows us to better manage risks and work more efficiently. In addition, the system is user-friendly and reliable, something that is essential in this industry.”
Gains in efficiency and better collaboration with growers
Since implementing iCrop, Gourmet has already noticed significant improvements. One important gain is efficiency in daily work. Data on crop protection and growers are readily available. This enables Evert to respond more quickly to challenges and provide more accurate advice on the timing of spraying activities, for example. In addition, the administration around spray plans and compliance has been significantly streamlined.
The link between the Smartfarm platform, used by the grower, and iCrop also allows growers and advisors to share up-to-date information. This link ensures that Evert is always aware of the situation in the field and can provide the grower with advice at the best time. This increases the accuracy and impact of the advisory process. “For example, the link with weather information from Smartfarm helps us apply crop protection at the optimal time, which not only saves us time, but also resources.”
Looking ahead: new modules and a widely deployable solution
Gourmet has ambitious plans for the future with iCrop. For example, expansion with modules for automatic sprayer registration and links to other systems is on the agenda. “We eventually want to centralize all data flows and manage all activities from a single platform. The flexibility offered by iCrop makes this possible,” says Evert. This will not only further improve efficiency, but also further reduce the risks of errors.
An experience to share: recommendation to other agricultural businesses
Evert would recommend iCrop to other crop-processing and agricultural companies, mainly because of its efficiency and compliance benefits. “Thanks to iCrop, we have a reliable system for data collection and regulatory compliance. This allows us to better manage risks and work more efficiently. In addition, the system is user-friendly and reliable, something that is essential in this industry.”
With iCrop, Gourmet looks confidently to the future and can respond to the increasing demand for efficiency and sustainability in the agricultural sector.
Gourmet
Slimweg 42
1614 MG Grootebroek
The Netherlands
www.gourmet.nl
