Minister wants to allow more AI use in agriculture
Minister of Agriculture Femke Wiersma has announced plans to amend Dutch laws and regulations to make it easier for farmers to use artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies in their operations, NOS reports. The proposed changes would legalize practices such as drone-assisted crop monitoring and more frequent but smaller-scale fertilization — methods currently prohibited under existing rules. Wiersma, a member of the BBB, called the reforms “absolutely necessary” for “the survival and future prospects of agriculture.”
At the heart of the proposal is the broader application of precisielandbouw, or precision farming, which involves using drones to map the condition of crops in real time. By identifying exactly which plants are thriving and which are not, farmers can target specific areas for fertilization instead of spraying entire fields uniformly.
“This is not only good for efficiency, but also for the environment,” Wiersma said. However, current law restricts such targeted fertilization because it requires more frequent application, even if in smaller amounts. Regulations also classify drones as crop-dusting aircraft — which are banned in the Netherlands — thereby prohibiting their use for spraying plants altogether.
Wiersma criticized the current legal framework, calling it “obstructive,” and said she intends to press her colleague Barry Madlener, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, to take up the issue with urgency. “I will certainly tug at Madlener’s jacket to put this on the agenda. I believe this is something the Cabinet must tackle proactively,” she said.
One of the most visible pioneers of precision farming is Jacob van den Borne, a potato farmer in Reusel, Noord-Brabant. Since 2010, Van den Borne has used drones to monitor his fields. To legally operate them, he took the unusual step of applying for — and receiving — airport status for a section of his land. Since 2019, the location has been officially known as Reusel Airport.
“We have many technological solutions that lead to better quality and higher yields,” Van den Borne told NOS. “This technology is going to make sure my children still have a future in farming. But the current laws are standing in the way.”
While enthusiasm for precision farming is reportedly growing, adoption remains limited. Researcher Paul van Zoggel from Wageningen University & Research (WUR) acknowledged that the Netherlands is “still really in the early adopter phase.”
According to a recent survey conducted by LTO Noord, only 14 percent of Dutch agricultural and horticultural businesses currently use AI technologies. Many farmers either lack familiarity with the options or remain skeptical of artificial intelligence.
Van Zoggel believes generational differences play a role. “Older farmers only have five or six years left before retirement and think, ‘This isn’t for me.’ That’s a very natural reaction,” he told NOS. “But younger farmers, who still have thirty years ahead of them, are saying, ‘Bring it on. Give me a horizon, and I’ll see if I can get there with precision technology.’”
Wiersma emphasized that enabling these changes is vital for the long-term sustainability of Dutch agriculture. Her ministry aims to address both the legal status of drones and the restrictions on fertilization schedules, paving the way for broader implementation of AI and other innovations in the farming sector.
Whether the Cabinet moves swiftly on her proposals will depend in part on coordination with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, as well as the outcome of discussions in the Tweede Kamer. “This is about securing the future of our farmers and the food supply,” Wiersma said. “We must act now.”
