Our solution

Our Solution

Farmers struggle to sow consistently at the right place and time, losing yield and profit.

S&dB addresses this challenge by shifting where and when precision is created.

Instead of relying on variable field conditions, S&dB defines precision before sowing begins.

This creates a uniform starting point for crop establishment and makes the season more predictable from day one.

The problem behind today’s sowing practices

Farmers consistently face three interconnected challenges.

Sowing is labour-intensive and time-critical

Precision sowing requires high labour input, strict timing and intensive soil preparation. Existing machines are often slow, sensitive and increase operational pressure instead of reducing it.

Sowing lacks consistency

Seeds are placed unevenly, leading to variable emergence and crop development. Farmers compensate with more seed, more fertiliser or additional passes, increasing costs and environmental impact without solving the root cause.

Sowing degrades soil quality over time

Repeated disturbance and broad input application weaken soil structure, reduce water retention and limit long-term productivity. While farmers want to protect their soils, current methods make this difficult in practice.

Once a crop starts unevenly, these effects persist throughout the season. Inputs such as irrigation and fertilizer are applied evenly, while plants develop at different rates, reducing efficiency without improving uniformity.

Most existing solutions try to manage precision during field operations. This requires intensive preparation, slow operating speeds and high operator dependency. High-tech alternatives often add complexity and cost without addressing everyday field reality.

Our solution

vSET is S&dB’s seed embedding technology for open-field vegetable production.
By fixing seed position and spacing before sowing, vSET creates a uniform starting point for crop establishment. This allows growers to apply early-stage inputs in a controlled and consistent way and reduces the need for corrective actions later in the season.

How it works

The solution consists of two components, the seed embedded tape, and the planting tool: designed as one integrated system.

Factory-defined precision is applied directly in the field, reliably and at scale.

A different approach to sowing precision

S&dB rethinks sowing by removing critical variables from the field operation itself.
Precision is no longer created in the field, but defined upfront.

1 Coating Layer

Adhesive polymer with fillers to fix seed and to hold growth-stimulating & protecting additives.

3 Backing Layer

Hydrophilic non-woven carrier. Absorbs, distributes & holds water. Also suppresses weed growth.

The Seed Tape

In 3 layers

2 Distributed Seeds

Smart, precise seedbed with random or lineair seed distribution.

Suitable for crops with small seeds, including onion, carrot, leek, lettuce, chicory root, chicory leaf, cabbage, potato seeds.

Controlled precision, before entering the field

S&dB designs and produces its seed tape under fully controlled factory conditions. Seeds are embedded at exact, predefined spacing, fixing the most critical variables before entering the field. This ensures millimetre-level precision that remains consistent from production through planting.

Designed for uniform emergence

The seed tape is developed for crops where uniform emergence directly impacts yield, quality and labour efficiency, such as onions, lettuce and other precision-sown vegetables.

Enabling targeted input placement

Because seed position is fixed, early-stage inputs can be applied in a controlled and consistent way. Depending on the crop and system design, this may include starter fertilisers, micronutrients or herbicides, placed exactly where they are needed.

Supporting early-stage water availability

The structure of the seed tape supports local water availability around the seed during early establishment. This improves water-use efficiency and contributes to more reliable and uniform emergence.