Lemken breaking ground in Brabant: demand for innovative agriculture is growing
Picture ltr: Stephanie ter Borg - Managing Director REWIN, Anthony van der LEY – Chief Executive Manager at Lemken, Udo Otrzonsek – COO Lemken, Nicola Lemken - Owner & Managing Board Lemken, Brigit van Dijk – van de Reijt – CEO BOM, alderman Steenbergen Kees Gommeren.
On Wednesday, February 8, the German company Lemken held a ceremony for the beginning of the construction of their new building. The innovative manufacturer of weed control machines will be located at the Agro Food Cluster Nieuw-Prinsenland in Brabant and will open its doors at the end of 2023. The Brabant Development Agency (BOM) and REWIN supported Lemken in the location selection and establishment process.
Lemken is investing 18 million euros in the new factory to keep up with the growing demand for weed control machines. Director Iljan Schouten: “precision agriculture is becoming increasingly important in our society. We continue to innovate and want to take a pioneering role in this.” By removing weeds by machine, fewer pesticides are needed, which contributes to more sustainable agriculture.
The choice for locating their company in Brabant is more than logical for CEO Anthony van der Ley: “We were looking for a location where we can realize all our ambitions. Where innovation and collaboration come first. This is exactly what the Brabant region offers us. The innovative character, the “open” way of working together and the strong Agrifood cluster. With the proximity of Cosun and other AgroFood players, we learn and innovate together.”
Further strengthening in ecosystem
To further anchor the company in the Brabant ecosystem, BOM organized an innovation tour. We visited the Brainport Industries Campus, where the most innovative and successful companies and institutions from the Brainport region come together. The entire AgriFood value chain was presented, as well as the possibilities of Data Science in AgriFood. Van der Ley: “We are very inspired by the innovation tour and I am full of ideas about the future of Lemken in Brabant. Compliments to BOM and REWIN for their professionalism, knowledge and help. “