Digital Security Embedded in Three Horticultural Education Programmes

Security Delta (HSD) and the Greenport Cyber Resilience Centre, together with educational institutions, have taken an important step towards strengthening the digital resilience of the horticultural sector. As part of the Greenport Horti Campus Katapult programme, digital security is being structurally embedded in three vocational and higher education programmes: Horticulture & Agribusiness (Hogeschool Inholland Delft), Horti Technics & Management (MBO Westland) and Green Business & Logistics (Lentiz MBO Barendrecht). This will better prepare future professionals for a sector that is becoming increasingly digitalised and sustainable.

The structural integration is the result of a collaboration that began with guest lectures, knowledge sharing and discussions between lecturers, curriculum developers, entrepreneurs and experts. The Greenport Cyber Resilience Centre contributed up-to-date practical knowledge from the horticultural sector, helping to increasingly connect digital security with topics such as data, energy management, technology, automation, logistics and sustainability.

The horticultural sector is rapidly making increasing use of digital technologies, from climate control computers and sensors to logistics systems and data platforms. This is also increasing the sector's dependence on digital systems and the importance of cyber resilience across the entire value chain. Through its close collaboration with entrepreneurs, cyber experts and supply chain partners, CW Greenport has insight into the current cyber challenges facing the sector. Together with lecturers, this knowledge has been translated into lessons, practical examples, assignments and guest lectures that align with students' day-to-day professional practice.

Within the programmes, digital security is addressed across different years of study, subjects, work placements and practice-oriented projects. Topics range from energy management, crop production and technology to entrepreneurship, the organisational implementation of digital security and compliance with legislation and regulations. As a result, students learn not only what cyber risks are, but also how to work safely and responsibly with digital systems and data, and what responsibility entrepreneurs have for the digital resilience of their organisation and supply chain.

According to HSD, this development demonstrates how collaboration between education and industry can contribute to a resilient and innovative horticultural sector.

Joris den Bruinen, Managing Director of Security Delta (HSD):

“Digital security should not be confined to a separate corner of education; it should be an integral part of how future horticultural professionals learn to work with data, technology, automation and supply chain collaboration. Thanks to the collaboration within Greenport Horti Campus Katapult, we can translate up-to-date practical knowledge from the sector directly into education and thereby contribute to a digitally resilient horticultural value chain.”

The educational institutions also see the structural integration as an important step.

Jan van der Lans, lecturer in Horti Technics & Management at MBO Westland Naaldwijk:

“Digital security is a permanent part of our programme, from practical assignments and work placements to the business plan. In this way, students gradually build up their knowledge and experience and learn that digital security is a natural part of their future work.”

The first elements are already visible in the 2025–2026 academic year through guest lectures and in-depth activities. From the 2026–2027 academic year onwards, the structural integration into the curricula will be rolled out further. At Lentiz MBO Barendrecht, integration into Year 2 will begin in the 2027–2028 academic year.

The collaboration takes place within the Greenport Horti Campus Katapult programme, which focuses on digitalisation and sustainability. Digital security is regarded as an essential prerequisite for successful innovation, the adoption of new technologies, and a future-proof horticultural value chain.

Photograph: iStock/LuckyBusiness