On June 17, 2026, we organized an interactive and inspiring sparring session at the Venco Campus in Eersel. Together with several colleagues, we carefully prepared the session and looked forward to welcoming 9 poultry farmers.
The goal of the day was to openly exchange ideas and have in-depth discussions about Meggsius Connect. All participating farmers have been working with Connect for quite some time, and the majority are involved as pilot farms in the Interreg NWE OMELETTE project. Within this project, we regularly visit poultry farmers to exchange feedback and further develop Connect. As a result, everyone had a solid foundation to provide valuable insights.
The sparring session started with an interesting tour at Vencosteel, where participants got a behind-the-scenes look at the production environment. Although all farmers were already familiar with the Venco Campus, none of them had visited Vencosteel before. The completely renewed machinery made a strong impression.
On the way back to the Campus, walking together in the sunshine, there was time for informal conversations. Once back, everyone enjoyed a drink and a traditional ‘Brabants worstenbroodje’, after which the content-driven session began. In an open and interactive atmosphere, we discussed current experiences with Connect and explored how data and technology can better support daily decision-making on the farm.
It became clear that data is only truly valuable when it helps farmers take concrete actions. Participants expressed a need for clear insights, reliable data, and timely signals when deviations occur.
Around dinnertime, the program was paused for a shared outdoor dinner in the sun—a relaxed moment to connect and exchange experiences.
After dinner, the session continued. There was so much valuable feedback that time simply flew by, and not all prepared questions could be addressed. This clearly reflected the engagement and enthusiasm of the group.
The session provided us with valuable insights into the needs of poultry farmers when it comes to data. At the same time, it was highly motivating and enjoyable to engage with such a diverse group in this way—an approach that is definitely worth repeating.