Digital Threats in the Fresh Produce Sector: “Don’t Wait Until it’s Too Late”

The fresh produce sector is undergoing rapid digital transformation. From ordering systems and inventory management to automated greenhouses and logistics. An increasing number of business-critical processes are connected to the internet and managed digitally. While this delivers major gains in efficiency and productivity, it also exposes businesses to growing cyber risks. Cyber incidents, including ransomware attacks and compromised climate control systems, are becoming more frequent, causing operational disruption, production downtime, and significant financial losses.

According to Josephine van Luik of the Cyberweerbaarheidscentrum Greenport and technology expert Harrij Schmeitz of Growers United, cybersecurity remains insufficiently prioritised within the fresh produce industry, as is the case across many sectors. Both stress that cyber resilience should no longer be viewed solely as an IT concern, but as a shared responsibility across the entire supply chain.

Read the interview in Dutch here.