Circular Feed, Gas-Free Districts, and Hydrogen Transport
With all the projects in the Foodvalley Region, it is easy to lose track. The area from Wageningen to Nijkerk is a leader in the food industry. But how do you know what is happening where? And how can entrepreneurs join ongoing initiatives?
In June, Regio Foodvalley launched the Digital Project Map, built on the GeoApps platform. It is a valuable solution for a resilient and future-proof region.
Digital Hub
In the Foodvalley Region, governments, entrepreneurs, and educational institutions work together to create a region that is sustainable to live and work in. This collaboration in agrifood, nutrition, and health has been ongoing for more than ten years.
The digital map now brings together all active programs, research, and projects from the Strategic Agenda, which serves as the region’s guide for future impact.
“A central hub of all running projects in the region was missing,” says Dennis Gudden, Project Leader of the Entrepreneurs Desk, Regio Foodvalley.
“Many people want to contribute to a better living environment but do not know how. I often get questions about ongoing projects. Now everyone can explore the map and find what is relevant, from circular agriculture to healthy food.”
Direct Connections
The map helps initiatives and participants connect because what is unknown remains unseen.
“We want to make things as easy as possible for entrepreneurs,” says Dennis.
“That is why each project on the map includes a contact person and a phone number, so you can take action right away and speak directly with the project lead.”
For council members, residents, or students, the map provides a clear overview of what the Foodvalley Region is working on.
Within the map, you can find business support points and a complete overview of initiatives within Foodvalley, including:
Agriculture and vital rural areas
Nutrition for a healthy life
Energy transition
Human capital
Innovation, clustering, and circular economy
Physical planning conditions
Quality of living
And the programs of the Regio Deal
Education
Universities of Applied Sciences, ROCs, Utrecht University, and Wageningen University also use the map.
“Education plays a major role in training young people for the professions of the future,” says Dennis.
“We need well-trained people in the food industry and construction sectors. With the map, businesses and educators can find each other more easily and work together on solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow.”
For example, students from WUR and CHE are involved in circular entrepreneurship research, the Entrepreneurs Desk, and projects such as Barneveld Tomorrow.
GeoApps Platform
All icons in the map match the structure of the Strategic Agenda.
“It is great that the software allows customization,” Dennis explains.
“The design of the map fits perfectly with Foodvalley’s visual identity and immediately engages the viewer.”
The map went live within three months and is now managed by Dennis and several colleagues.
“User-friendliness was our top priority, both for residents and entrepreneurs,” Dennis continues.
“It is simple to enter new projects or update information. In the future, we plan to add a search function so users can find projects by specific terms.”
