Worldwide, significant challenges remain in the storage and logistics of potatoes and grains. Heat, moisture and inadequate ventilation can lead to spoilage, mould formation and pest infestations, resulting in substantial quality degradation and food losses. In North-West Europe, where these crops form a vital part of the food supply chain, the associated financial losses amount to millions of euros each year. Port of Zwolle is currently facilitating two innovative pilot projects to address this issue. We spoke with project manager Lennard Drogendijk.
Port of Zwolle is the logistical gateway to the Zwolle Region: a physical hub where inland waterways, rail and road networks converge. From the ports of Zwolle, Meppel and Kampen, Port of Zwolle provides multimodal connections and serves as a key hub for the European hinterland. Its activities focus on connecting businesses, government and educational institutions, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, circular economy initiatives and the energy transition. In this way, Port of Zwolle is developing into a future-proof regional hub where collaboration and innovation go hand in hand.
Port of Zwolle also acts as a facilitator, supporting logistics companies in the development and adoption of innovations. In this context, Port of Zwolle is the lead partner in the international DODILog project (Develop Opportunities to Digitalise & Innovate in the Agri-Food Value Chain’s Logistics), which is partly funded by the EU’s Interreg North-West Europe Programme.
Over the next three years, partners from the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany will work together to identify and implement smart and sustainable innovations for the storage and logistics of potatoes and grains.
How does this collaboration take shape in practice? What is being tested and developed?
“Specifically, the pilots involve Tapp from Leeuwarden and Javelot from France. Tapp provides paper-based sensors that monitor, among other things, temperature. These paper sensors are placed at various locations within a container or big bag. When they are retrieved after a certain period, they provide insight into temperature and humidity conditions throughout the transport process. If temperature or humidity levels have exceeded safe thresholds at any point, corrective measures can be taken to prevent grain or potatoes from spoiling or contaminating other products. This also helps to avoid potential damage claims, which can result in significant cost savings. A major advantage of Tapp’s data loggers is that, after use, they can simply be disposed of with waste paper, making them a highly sustainable solution.”
And what about the French company? How is that pilot progressing?
“Javelot has developed an innovative temperature measurement and ventilation control system, complemented by a probe of up to 10 metres in length for flat storage or as a suspension cable for vertical silos. Similar to the Dutch solution, these rod-based sensors continuously measure temperature and help prevent the formation of insect colonies, a common issue in large-scale food storage. In this pilot, three silos at Graansloot Kampen are being used: one operating in a traditional manner, one equipped with the Javelot application, and one with the Javelot Plus application, in which Javelot also controls ventilation based on outside air humidity. We will be working on this together in the coming months. We expect to be able to present results and recommendations related to the Tapp solution by the end of the year or shortly thereafter. The Javelot solution is expected to deliver its first results around the summer of 2026.”
Excerpt from the Nieuwsblad Transport (NT) article:
Port of Zwolle: kwaliteits- en voedselverliezen verminderen met slimme innovaties
See full Port of Zwolle and Nieuwsblad Transport (NT) articles:
Reducing quality and food losses with smart innovations
Port of Zwolle: kwaliteits- en voedselverliezen verminderen met slimme innovaties