After a quick breakfast at The Generator, we had another day full of public transportation- I have become incredibly comfortable navigating The Netherlands tram system! We boarded a tram, train and bus before arriving in Utrecht. This small city is home to the Aurea Imaging office, our site visit for the day. During the visit, we toured the modern think tank building the company rents. Full of swinging chairs and couches, coffee shops, and beautiful floor to ceiling windows, the office is an ideal work environment for young professionals.
We were able to grab some free drinks before our presenter and office guide, Ruan, began teaching us about precision agriculture and Aurea Imaging’s role in the industry. Precision agriculture is a farming management concept that utilizes data analytics to improve crop returns. Before today, I knew nothing about the industry and was amazed by the capabilities of Aurea Imaging’s technology. Aurea identifies itself as a “Crop Intelligence Company” that provides innovative services for both growers and breeders. Ruan explained that growers hire the company to fly drones over their fields. The drones scan the crops and collect data on blossom to vegetation ratios, and other important metrics that farmers track to gauge crop yield. Ruan explained that Aurea has many returning breeder customers but few returning grower consumers. In order to compensate, Aurea has begun to sign 3 year contracts with farms in order to increase return rates within this segment. This contractual concept has the added benefit of allowing Aurea to truly improve crops. When this technology is utilized over the course of multiple harvests, true transformation can be clearly seen by both growers and end consumers of the produce.
After the presentation, we indulged in a classic Dutch lunch of a salad and sandwich. It was delicious and filling- I was happy to sit outside in the sun and enjoy the meal.
Once we finished lunch, our CIEE guide, Sophia, gave us a tour of her hometown, Utrecht. She showed us her favorite stores, where she took her classes, and a beautiful church. Utrecht was an incredibly charming city that felt much more authentic than the tourist dominated areas of Amsterdam. I loved that there were small shops and restaurants with outdoor seating right on the street. My friends and I agreed that if we were to live in The Netherlands, we’d definitely join Sophia in Utrecht!
