With more than 100 years of experience and expertise in soil and water research, Royal Eijkelkamp continuously contributes to a healthy and safe living environment.

Royal Eijkelkamp aims to become a preferred supplier in (total) solutions for soil and water research worldwide. Through close cooperation and knowledge sharing, we continue to deliver sustainable added value to customers and partners. In the future, too, we respond innovatively to rapidly changing customer demand.

Soil Valley is an innovation ecosystem of Entrepreneurs, Government, Educational Institutions and Citizens with the aim of re-establishing a healthy and sustainable soil and water system, so that:

  • Enough high-quality healthy food can be produced
  • Climate problems such as drought, heat, flooding and salinisation can be mitigated
  • Biodiversity can be restored and preserved
  • CO2 and nitrogen emissions are reduced and can be captured in the soil
  • Enough healthy groundwater is available
  • Economically healthy growth gets a lot of attention
  • Young generations get inspiration and hope
  • Soil life gets more attention worldwide

Programme:

  • presentation Royal Eijkelkamp / InnoFields / Soil Valley
  • Guided tour of Royal Eijkelkamp companies

Company visit Royal Eijkelkamp - 17 April 2025

During the visit to Royal Eijkelkamp in Giesbeek, we were given a comprehensive and inspiring tour of the company. Accompanied by enthusiastic employees, we got a unique behind-the-scenes look at this innovative player in soil and water research.

What we saw:

  • Production and assembly: We got an insight into the entire process from product development to final product. From the mechanical parts to the delicate electronics - everything is manufactured in-house with precision and craftsmanship.
  • Machinery: An impressive array of (in-house developed) machinery, including drilling equipment and sonic drills, was explained and partly demonstrated.
  • Innovation in action: The BOOD (Business Out Of Data) project was explained, in which smart sensors collect and analyse data during drilling. This technology enables predictive maintenance and even autonomous drilling.
  • R&D department: Here we saw how data science, software development and mechanical engineering come together to realise innovative solutions for soil testing.

The tour showed not only what Royal Eijkelkamp has to offer technically, but also its passion for sustainability, innovation and social impact - including through Soil Valley.

Soil Valley is an initiative that focuses on the health of our soil, and therefore the health of people, nature and the planet. Based in Giesbeek, next to Royal Eijkelkamp, Soil Valley functions as an ecosystem of companies, knowledge institutions and civil society organisations working together on innovations for sustainable soil improvement and responsible soil management.

Why Soil Valley?

Soil is literally the basis of everything: our food production, water management, biodiversity and climate adaptation depend on it. Yet worldwide, soil is in a worrying state due to depletion, pollution and urbanisation. Soil Valley aims to reverse this trend by:

  • Encouraging innovation: through new measurement methods, data analysis (such as the BOOD project), and smart technologies to continuously monitor soil quality.
  • Promoting cooperation: between technology, policy, science and practice.
  • Sharing knowledge and raising awareness: by involving people - from students to policymakers - in soil issues.

The public interest

Healthy soil contributes to:

  • Climate resilience: through better water infiltration, carbon storage and resilience to drought/extremes.
  • Food security: fertile soils are crucial for sustainable agriculture.
  • Biodiversity: a healthy soil is a habitat for millions of organisms.
  • Clean water: through natural filtering of rain and groundwater.

Soil Valley positions itself as a "Wageningen of soil practice" - where ideas, tools and applications come together for real change.

Become a Social Shareholder

To support this mission, Soil Valley is looking for social shareholders: committed individuals, companies and organisations who contribute financially (from €500/year) and thus become part of a movement for healthy soil. Besides social impact, the network offers inspiration, knowledge sharing and access to innovative projects.