Driving Innovation in Vegetable Farming: Demo event by DELPHY at Onion Day 2025, The Netherlands
On 21 August 2025, the QuantiFarm project took centre stage at Onion Day 2025 in Colijnsplaat, one of the Netherlands’ most important national events for the arable farming community. The event drew over 1,200 visitors, including growers, advisors, researchers, breeders, suppliers, and technology companies — all eager to explore the latest advances in sustainable and data-driven vegetable cultivation.
A Strategic Collaboration for Greater Impact
This year, Delphy made the strategic choice to integrate the QuantiFarm demonstration into Onion Day rather than hosting a stand-alone event. This decision proved highly effective, enabling the project to reach a far larger and more relevant audience within the professional vegetable-growing sector. Positioned among leading innovations in onion and potato production, QuantiFarm captured significant attention from visitors keen to learn how digital tools are transforming modern agriculture.
Bringing Digital Agriculture to the Field
At the QuantiFarm stand, visitors were introduced to the project’s objectives and relevance through interactive demonstrations, roll-up banners, and informative leaflets. A highlight was the hands-on demo of the QuantiFarm Toolkit and QMS-Water system, presented via touchscreen and tablet. These tools illustrate how data on soil moisture and irrigation efficiency can guide smarter, more sustainable water use.
In the field, attendees could see how digital solutions integrate into real-world farming practices. The presentation included discussions on soil sensors, precision irrigation, ridge sowing, and sustainable fertilisation methods, complemented by examples of cutting-edge technologies such as drones, robots, and spot sprayers.
Engaging Discussions and Practical Insights
Farmers and advisors showed great enthusiasm for innovations like precision irrigation and robot-assisted weeding, recognising their potential to improve efficiency and sustainability. However, many highlighted the importance of practicality, cost-effectiveness, and ease of integration before large-scale adoption. Several expressed interest in testing these tools on a small scale before making substantial investments — an insight that underscores the need for gradual, evidence-based digital transitions in agriculture.
Throughout the day, QuantiFarm’s stand remained a focal point for exchange and discovery. While the high level of interest occasionally meant that not every visitor could engage at length, the energy and curiosity surrounding the demonstrations confirmed the sector’s growing appetite for digital transformation.
Excellent Feedback and Growing Interest
The feedback gathered from participants was overwhelmingly positive. The QuantiFarm presentation was rated “excellent” for its clarity, interactivity, and real-world applicability. Attendees valued the project’s focus on data-driven decision-making and the opportunity to see technology applied directly in the field.
To ensure continuous improvement, Delphy noted that future editions could benefit from additional staff or a dedicated area to better accommodate the large number of visitors interested in the demo.
Visibility and Media Coverage
QuantiFarm’s presence at Onion Day was further amplified through communication and media coverage. The event was featured in several national agricultural outlets:
- AGF.nl published a photo report capturing the vibrant atmosphere of the day.
- Akkerwijzer highlighted the innovative solutions presented for more resilient onion cultivation.
- Nieuwe Oogst focused on the practical field trials demonstrating new methods such as ridge sowing and laser weeding.
These publications reinforced the event’s significance and the growing recognition of QuantiFarm as a key contributor to advancing sustainable farming technologies.
A Step Forward for Digital and Sustainable Agriculture
By embedding its demo within Onion Day, QuantiFarm succeeded in reaching a broad audience and sparking meaningful dialogue across the vegetable sector. The event showcased how digital tools, data-driven insights, and precision techniques can work together to enhance productivity, sustainability, and resource efficiency.
With strong interest from farmers, valuable feedback from advisors, and visibility across national media, Onion Day 2025 marked another important milestone in QuantiFarm’s mission to empower European farmers with smart, science-based agricultural solutions.