HLB has been conducting research on precision agriculture for more than ten years. The research aims to achieve maximum yields and quality with the minimum of pesticides, fertiliser and water.

Programmes in which HLB participates include PPL (a Precision Agriculture Programme) and IJKakker (an agricultural trial programme). Sensing systems are an integral part of precision agriculture. HLB researches and develops sensor-based monitoring systems for crop protection, fertilisation and water application. Currently, remote sensing systems for detecting diseases are in the spotlight.