Sun, machines and modular farming in Oregon
On day 1 of the Orchard of the Future US journey, on July 7, everything this mission stands for was immediately brought to life. It was the first time the group met in person, immersing themselves in Oregon’s manufacturing industry and ending the day with an informal networking event in Hood River. Between rose gardens, welding robots and local pizza, the first meaningful connections emerged between Dutch and American participants.
Getting to know each other and each other’s markets
A sunny start in Portland gave everyone the space to settle in and get acquainted. During a walk along the Waterfront, a visit to Powell’s City of Books and the famous rose garden, the group not only had casual conversations but also exchanged their first professional insights. Companies discovered each other’s background, market focus and added value, and started discussing how their solutions might fit the US context. A solid foundation for the rest of the week.
Canopii shows how technology can create local support
The first visit was to Canopii, a startup developing modular, fully automated greenhouses. These systems make it possible to grow healthy, sustainable food locally, for example at schools or restaurants. Canopii is a great example of how technology can accelerate production while also fostering public engagement. By involving children in growing food and learning about biology and engineering, it builds curiosity, awareness and support for innovation. For the Dutch participants, this visit showed how smart applications not only improve yield but also strengthen the story behind the product. These kinds of insights help make technology more tangible, spark ideas and translate opportunities into their own business.
GK Machine demonstrates the power of scalable engineering
The next stop was GK Machine, a well-established name in agricultural machinery manufacturing. From welding to powder coating, and from prototype to production, everything is done in-house. Their machines are used all over the world, including by agtech companies like GreenEye. For participants, it offered valuable insight into how technical ideas are translated into robust, scalable solutions. Especially for companies looking to scale up or adapt products for the US market, it was a practical and inspiring reference point.
Research as a bridge between technology and practice
The afternoon program took place at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center in Aurora. Here, researchers shared their work on berry production, hazelnuts and other regional crops, followed by a guided tour of the experimental station. The connection between academic research and day-to-day farming practices was clearly visible. For Dutch tech companies, this offered direct inspiration. How can you ensure innovations fit into existing systems and what does the transition from lab to field really look like.
Pitches and pizza at a valuable first networking event
In the evening, the group travelled to Hood River, with a scenic stop at Multnomah Falls. There, the first networking event took place on a local farm. Dutch companies gave short pitches to an audience of American growers, researchers and processors, sparking conversations about shared challenges and ambitions. The informal setting with pizza and local craft beer made space for genuine exchange, but content was clearly at the core. This first encounter already showed how much there is to explore together.
What this day shows about Orchard of the Future
This first day made clear how valuable it is to explore new ground together. Traveling as a group accelerates conversations, builds trust faster and creates space to spot opportunities. OotF makes these encounters possible in places where content and context come together.
Read also the rest of the trip
Day 2, 8th of July 2025 >
Day 3, 9th of July 2025 >
Day 4, 10th of July 2025 >
Day 5, 11th of July 2025 >
