Foreword by Martin van Gogh

Green Qubits

This Digitalisation Vision for Greenhouse Horticulture gives a clear description of how we can apply digitalisation to (once again) become world leaders in the market for vegetables and ornamental plant products. This is the core of the ‘Feeding and Greening the Megacities’ strategy, which I was privileged to develop and summarise a few years back in the widely-used infographic. The strategy consists of the pillars Knowledge & Innovation, Selling products and services to (residents of) Western European megacities, and International sales of such concepts. New technology is needed to achieve this, but more than anything it’s essential that we think differently and that we realise that digitalisation is much more than just an opportunity; it is essential if we are to survive.

Take ‘quantum computing’, for example. It’s a technology that seems to have escaped from a science fiction film, but one in which we in the Netherlands – particularly in Delft – are leading the way for the rest of the world. The new internet could well be ‘made in Delft’.

To illustrate the difference between traditional and quantum computers, research firm Gartner takes a library as an example. A classical computer reads all those books one by one, one after the other. A quantum computer reads millions of books at once, and finishes more quickly too.

So quantum computers operate completely differently to classical computers. They make use of the idiosyncratic characteristics of particles that are smaller than atoms. Standard computers work with bits. They can only deal with two different values: zeroes and ones. Quantum computers work with ‘quantum bits’, or ‘qubits’ for short. They are able to assume both possible states simultaneously: on and off. They can be on a zero, a one, or both at once.

‘Quantum computing’ is almost past the experimental stage; the first practical tests have started and there’s still a lot to be done. Once the technology is working properly, the consequences could be enormous. The impact on horticultural applications in the fields of artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science will be huge. This is also true of the pharmaceutical industry, health care, the security industry and energy. Entirely new products, such as super-powerful batteries, strong fibres and rust-proof paint, are expected to see the light of day thanks to quantum computing. Other options include climate simulations and smart robots. Quantum computers leave traditional computers far behind. This also makes them a serious threat to cryptography. Their computing power is so enormous that encrypted data is no longer secure. Even advanced encryption can be cracked. It’s hard for us to imagine what this will mean.

There is no doubt that our horticulture is moving towards a digitalised future. Digitalisation is inevitable if we are increase productivity and maintain competitiveness. These fantastic developments create important opportunities for business in the horticultural industry, both in the primary sector and in the supply chain.

But the road to digitalisation is also full of challenges. With this Digitalisation Vision for Greenhouse Horticulture, which deals with the role of digitalisation in ‘Feeding and Greening the Megacities’, the sector will be able to prepare for the digital transformation, for example by working on making data widely accessible, and developing awareness and an open attitude amongst business owners. Because no matter how digital the future is, humans are the ones in charge and in order to do that they – the business owner or the employee

– must have the right competences. Fortunately robotisation doesn’t mean that we, the people in the sector, no longer need to think – especially about digitalisation.

Martin van Gogh Vice-chairman Economic Board South Holland Director Batenburg Industrial Automation Ambassador Greenport West-Holland