VARIO visits ILVO

On 16 June, a VARIO delegation visited ILVO, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. It was a busy day with a varied and enjoyable programme. We were given interesting presentations on the various areas in which ILVO is active, followed by lively discussions on (among other things) intellectual property and plant breeders' rights, collaboration with other knowledge institutions, the new ILVO sites under construction, the vision on agriculture currently being developed, climate change and drought-tolerant crops, cultured meat and microbial protein, data sharing and prototype testing, TRLs and KPIs, methane research and precision feed, etc. The delegation also visited four of ILVO's sites: 1) the Food Pilot, a pilot facility with food processing machines, laboratories and nutritionists that help companies, laboratories and governments with challenges in food processing. 2) the high-tech research field HYDRAS, which is equipped with state-of-the-art technology both above and below ground to simulate drought, and measure its effects on plants. This is used in plant breeding and the development of new, drought-tolerant crops and varieties in light of climate change. 3) The Agrifood Test and Experimentation Facility (TEF), which offers research services and support in the field of precision agriculture, the use of data and robotics in the agrifood sector, and 4) The research stable for cattle, where research is conducted into, among other things, reducing methane emissions from livestock.