--- title: WayBeyond on the road with Daniel Than description: Daniel Than covers flash floods in Spain and unseasonable heatwaves in Morocco, and shows how FarmRoad is helping farmers build more resilient growing practices. image: https://www.waybeyond.io/hubfs/Daniel-Than-Blueberry-Farm-min.jpg --- [![WayBeyond logo](https://20315204.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/20315204/WB%20Images/WayBeyond%20Logo%20(1).svg)](https://www.waybeyond.io?hsLang=en) - Solutions - [Agronomy Intelligence](https://www.waybeyond.io/solutions/agronomy-intelligence) - [Optimize irrigation](https://www.waybeyond.io/solutions/optimize-irrigation) - [Unify farm data](https://www.waybeyond.io/solutions/unify-farm-data) - [Monitor plant health](https://www.waybeyond.io/solutions/monitor-plant-health) - [Understand microclimates](https://www.waybeyond.io/solutions/understand-microclimates) - [Manage pests and diseases](https://www.waybeyond.io/solutions/manage-plant-diseases-and-pests) - [Steer crops](https://www.waybeyond.io/solutions/crop-steering) - [Maximize yield](https://www.waybeyond.io/solutions/maximize-crop-yield) - Products - [FarmRoad](https://www.waybeyond.io/farmroad-crop-management-software) - [GrowPilot](https://www.waybeyond.io/growpilot) - Crops - [Tomatoes](https://www.waybeyond.io/crops/tomato-production) - [Blueberries](https://www.waybeyond.io/crops/blueberry-production) - [Peppers](https://www.waybeyond.io/crops/pepper-production) - [Raspberries](https://www.waybeyond.io/crops/raspberry-production) - [Other crops](https://www.waybeyond.io/crops/high-value-crop-production) - Customers - [Enterprise growers](https://www.waybeyond.io/customers/fresh-produce-growers) - [Seed producers](https://www.waybeyond.io/customers/vegetable-seed-producers) - [Customer stories](https://www.waybeyond.io/customer-stories) - [Pricing](https://www.waybeyond.io/en/farmroad-pricing) - [Resources](https://www.waybeyond.io/resources) - About - [Company](https://www.waybeyond.io/about/company) - [Investors](https://www.waybeyond.io/about/investors) - [Contact](https://www.waybeyond.io/contact-us) - [Newsroom](https://www.waybeyond.io/news) - [Login](https://app.farmroad.io/#/auth/:login) - ![](https://www.waybeyond.io/hubfs/WB%20Images/user.png) [login](https://app.farmroad.io) - ![](https://20315204.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/20315204/WB%20Images/Group%20(10).svg) SEARCH - ![](https://20315204.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/20315204/WB%20Images/Group%20(10).svg) ![](https://www.waybeyond.io/hubfs/Close_icon%20(3).svg) 03.12.2024 | 4 minute read # WayBeyond on the road with Daniel Than [PREVIOUS](https://www.waybeyond.io/news/five-reasons-why-commercial-growers-need-irrigation-management-software?hsLang=en) [NEXT](https://www.waybeyond.io/news/feeding-the-future?hsLang=en) Two weeks on the road, three countries, and ten commercial customer farm visits later, I’m back from a whirlwind trip through Spain, Morocco, and France. I had the chance to visit some of their key agricultural regions that supply much of Europe's fresh produce, where growers in protected cultivation are farming under increasingly complex conditions driven by climate change. Here are some of the key highlights from my travels. ## Weathering the storm in Spain I arrived in Málaga, Spain, on Sunday, and by Tuesday was driving through torrential rain to pick up Souheil, WayBeyond’s new EMEA Technical Agronomist Account Manager and the latest addition to our team in Morocco. On the drive back to town, lightning lit up the sky as rain pelted down. Yet, despite the weather, the fields were bone dry—a clear sign of the ongoing drought that has affected Spain for much of the year. We stayed in Vélez-Málaga, a town located about two hours’ drive from the province of Almería, which lies along the southern coast of Spain. Almería is where you find the highest concentration of greenhouses in the world—around 15,000 farms spread over 33,000 hectares. These plastic-covered greenhouses allow farmers to grow crops year-round, producing over 3 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables annually, with the majority exported to European markets. ![](https://www.waybeyond.io/hs-fs/hubfs/undefined.jpeg?width=1253&height=691&name=undefined.jpeg) *The commercial greenhouse landscape in Almería, referred to as as el mar de plástico (the sea of plastic)* While we were in Málaga, locals and farmers in Almería were hit by flash floods caused by a powerful weather system known locally as DANA. In just one day, it dumped a year’s worth of rain on the southern and eastern parts of Spain, **[destroying nearly 4,500 hectares of greenhouses](https://www.hortidaily.com/article/9673617/million-dollar-losses-as-hail-strikes-el-ejido-greenhouses/)** around El Ejido, Almería, and wiping out crops across the region. The impact on crop production has already affected food supply chains in Germany, France, and especially the UK. We were fortunate to have avoided the worst of the storm that passed through Málaga, but the event highlighted the vulnerability of our food systems to extreme weather and the challenges facing our enterprise customers. As climate change makes growing seasons more unpredictable, crop management tools like **[FarmRoad](https://www.waybeyond.io/farmroad-crop-management-software?hsLang=en)** will become even more important as it provides growers with **[critical weather and climate data](https://www.waybeyond.io/resources/five-reasons-why-commercial-growers-need-irrigation-management-software?hsLang=en)** to respond to daily challenges and navigate the complexities of a changing climat ![](https://www.waybeyond.io/hs-fs/hubfs/WayBeyond%20meeting%20the%20Eliven%20Tropical%20team%20at%20their%20dragon%20fruit%20greenhouse.jpg?width=2000&height=1500&name=WayBeyond%20meeting%20the%20Eliven%20Tropical%20team%20at%20their%20dragon%20fruit%20greenhouse.jpg) *Meeting the Eliven Tropical team at their dragon fruit greenhouse* ## Heatwaves and harvests in Morocco From Spain, we traveled to Morocco, where we were joined by Anas, WayBeyond’s EMEA Business Development Lead. Together, we visited a cluster of blueberry farms belonging to customers in the country’s northern region before heading south to the city of Agadir. The contrast in climate and terrain was striking. While the northern regions benefit from a cooler, more temperate climate, the south is hot and arid—a shift I felt as soon as we arrived. During our time there, we found ourselves in the midst of an unseasonable heatwave, with temperatures soaring to a blistering 44°C (111°F). This came as a surprise, given that Morocco was supposed to be transitioning into winter. ![](https://www.waybeyond.io/hs-fs/hubfs/WayBeyond%20visiting%20African%20Blue%E2%80%99s%20northern%20blueberry%20farms%20and%20meeting%20their%20team.jpg?width=2000&height=1500&name=WayBeyond%20visiting%20African%20Blue%E2%80%99s%20northern%20blueberry%20farms%20and%20meeting%20their%20team.jpg) *Visiting **[African Blue](https://www.africanblue.com/)**’s northern blueberry farms and meeting their team* *Souheil explained that extreme heat can severely impact crop growth, particularly during critical stages like flowering. As we walked through hectares of raspberry fields, I was impressed by how well the high-value crops were thriving despite the harsh conditions.* ![Meeting the team at Afrifruit](https://www.waybeyond.io/hs-fs/hubfs/WayBeyond%20%2ceeting%20the%20team%20at%20Afrifruit.jpg?width=2000&height=1500&name=WayBeyond%20,eeting%20the%20team%20at%20Afrifruit.jpg) Meeting the team at [Afrifruit](https://afrifruit.ma/) ![On-site at Afrifruit's raspberry farm](https://www.waybeyond.io/hs-fs/hubfs/On-site%20at%20Afrifruits%20raspberry%20farm_2.jpg?width=2000&height=1500&name=On-site%20at%20Afrifruits%20raspberry%20farm_2.jpg) On-site at Afrifruit's raspberry farm ![Catching up with the team at Azura at their R&D production facility](https://www.waybeyond.io/hs-fs/hubfs/WayBeyond%20catching%20up%20with%20the%20team%20at%20Azura%20at%20their%20R%26D%20production%20facility-1.jpg?width=2000&height=1500&name=WayBeyond%20catching%20up%20with%20the%20team%20at%20Azura%20at%20their%20R&D%20production%20facility-1.jpg) Catching up with the team at [Azura](https://www.azura-group.com/) at their R&D production facility In our conversations with local growers, we were excited to introduce **[GrowPilot](https://growpilot.io/?hsLang=en)**, WayBeyond’s AI agronomy app. The feedback we received from current users was very positive, with many highlighting how the tool helps them make informed decisions about irrigation and other crop management tasks. ## A stop by Hassan II University Between farm visits, we had the opportunity to stop by the **[Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Hassan II](https://iav.ac.ma/)** University in Agadir, where I met Professor Mimoun Mokhtari and toured their agricultural facilities. Morocco is steadily embracing digital technologies as part of its broader effort to modernize its agricultural sector, and this is reflected in the university’s curriculum. It was encouraging to hear how the university is preparing the next generation of agronomists to use digital tools and agronomy data, which will play a crucial part in shaping the industry towards more efficient and sustainable practices. ![The WayBeyond team at the Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Hassan II University](https://www.waybeyond.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Meeting%20Professor%20Mimoun%20Molhtarea%20at%20Hassan%20II%20University_2.jpg?width=3000&height=2250&name=Meeting%20Professor%20Mimoun%20Molhtarea%20at%20Hassan%20II%20University_2.jpg) The WayBeyond team at the Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Hassan II University: L-R, Souheil Rahoui, EMEA Technical Agronomist Account Manager, Daniel Than, Customer Success Director, and Anas Bennis, EMEA Business Development Manager ![Meeting Professor Mimoun Mokhtari at the Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Hassan II University](https://www.waybeyond.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Meeting%20Professor%20Mimoun%20Molhtarea%20at%20Hassan%20II%20University.jpg?width=3000&height=2250&name=Meeting%20Professor%20Mimoun%20Molhtarea%20at%20Hassan%20II%20University.jpg) Meeting Professor Mimoun Mokhtari at the Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Hassan II University   Conversations on seed innovation in France I wrapped up my trip in France with a visit to **[HM.CLAUSE](https://www.hmclause.com/)**, a global leader in vegetable seed production. While there, we had an insightful conversation with their team about the future of seed development and explored how WayBeyond can continue to support their work in producing quality, high-yielding seed varieties. This effort is incredibly valuable because it directly helps farmers meet the growing demand for food around the world. ## Making a difference, one farm at a time It’s been quite a two weeks. A major highlight for me was meeting with my WayBeyond counterparts in Morocco and spending time with both new customers and those I've developed close relationships with over the years (virtual meetings are great, but nothing beats an in-person visit!). Through the many conversations I had, it became clear that protected cropping farmers are eager to explore and adopt digital agronomy and utilize data to enhance their growing practices. As I boarded my 25-hour flight back to New Zealand, I felt a deep sense of fulfilment knowing that our work at WayBeyond is making a tangible difference on the ground, one farm at a time.     ![daniel-than](https://www.waybeyond.io/hs-fs/hubfs/daniel-than.png?width=180&height=202&name=daniel-than.png) Article by Daniel Than As Customer Success Director at WayBeyond, Daniel leads a small but mighty team that helps customers get the most value from digital agronomy tools like FarmRoad. Daniel is passionate about harnessing data and technology to help growers produce healthier crops and build more resilient food systems. ## Related Articles [All News](https://www.waybeyond.io/news?hsLang=en) ![FarmRoad Agronomy Intelligence provides growers with AI-powered crop risk insights and recommended actions through the FarmRoad mobile app.](https://www.waybeyond.io/hs-fs/hubfs/FarmRoad%20Agronomy%20Intelligence%20press%20release%20image_final%20(1).png?width=352&name=FarmRoad%20Agronomy%20Intelligence%20press%20release%20image_final%20(1).png) ###### [WayBeyond launches AI-powered Agronomy Intelligence to help protected cropping growers turn farm data into daily actions](https://www.waybeyond.io/news/waybeyond-launches-farmroad-agronomy-intelligence?hsLang=en) **San Francisco / Auckland - June 11, 2026**: WayBeyond today announced the launch of FarmRoad Agronomy... [WATCH VIDEO](https://www.waybeyond.io/news/waybeyond-launches-farmroad-agronomy-intelligence?hsLang=en) [START READING](https://www.waybeyond.io/news/waybeyond-launches-farmroad-agronomy-intelligence?hsLang=en) ![GrowPilot is the AI agronomy app for growers](https://www.waybeyond.io/hs-fs/hubfs/GrowPilot%20media%20releaes%20feature%20image%20(1)-min.jpg?width=352&name=GrowPilot%20media%20releaes%20feature%20image%20(1)-min.jpg) ###### [WayBeyond Launches New AI Agronomy App to Help Growers Stay Ahead of Crop Risk](https://www.waybeyond.io/news/waybeyond-launches-new-ai-agronomy-app-to-help-commercial-growers-stay-ahead-of-crop-risk?hsLang=en) **San Francisco / Auckland – November 5, 2025** — WayBeyond today announced the launch of GrowPilot, an... [WATCH VIDEO](https://www.waybeyond.io/news/waybeyond-launches-new-ai-agronomy-app-to-help-commercial-growers-stay-ahead-of-crop-risk?hsLang=en) [START READING](https://www.waybeyond.io/news/waybeyond-launches-new-ai-agronomy-app-to-help-commercial-growers-stay-ahead-of-crop-risk?hsLang=en) ![](https://www.waybeyond.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Daniel%20Than-1.jpg?width=352&name=Daniel%20Than-1.jpg) ###### [Feeding the Future: global innovations for a resilient food system](https://www.waybeyond.io/news/feeding-the-future?hsLang=en) > The West wastes; Africa grows. Can tech bridge the gap? How can we rethink farming with local... [WATCH VIDEO](https://www.waybeyond.io/news/feeding-the-future?hsLang=en) [START READING](https://www.waybeyond.io/news/feeding-the-future?hsLang=en) [![WayBeyond-white-logo](https://20315204.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/20315204/WB%20Images/WayBeyond%20Logo.svg)](https://www.waybeyond.io/?hsLang=en) **Champions of crop management.** Giving commercial growers the power to make better crop management decisions and optimize crop outcomes. - [![icons8-linkedin](https://www.waybeyond.io/hubfs/icons8-linkedin.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/waybeyond-limited) - [![icons8-facebook](https://www.waybeyond.io/hubfs/icons8-facebook.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/waybeyond.io) - [![icons8-instagram](https://www.waybeyond.io/hubfs/icons8-instagram.svg)](https://www.instagram.com/waybeyond.io) - [![icons8-twitter (3)](https://www.waybeyond.io/hubfs/icons8-twitter%20(3).svg)](https://twitter.com/waybeyond_io) - [![icons8-youtube](https://www.waybeyond.io/hubfs/icons8-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzoomuJSl6B1szeECg9HMwQ) Solutions - [Agronomy Intelligence](https://www.waybeyond.io/solutions/agronomy-intelligence?hsLang=en) - [Optimize irrigation](https://www.waybeyond.io/solutions/optimize-irrigation?hsLang=en) - [Unify farm data](https://www.waybeyond.io/solutions/unify-farm-data?hsLang=en) - [Monitor plant health](https://www.waybeyond.io/solutions/monitor-plant-health?hsLang=en) - [Understand microclimates](https://www.waybeyond.io/solutions/understand-microclimates?hsLang=en) - [Manage pests and diseases](https://www.waybeyond.io/solutions/manage-plant-diseases-and-pests?hsLang=en) - [Steer crops](https://www.waybeyond.io/solutions/crop-steering?hsLang=en) - [Maximize yield](https://www.waybeyond.io/solutions/maximize-crop-yield?hsLang=en) Crops - [Tomatoes](https://www.waybeyond.io/crops/tomato-production?hsLang=en) - [Blueberries](https://www.waybeyond.io/crops/blueberry-production?hsLang=en) - [Peppers](https://www.waybeyond.io/crops/pepper-production?hsLang=en) - [Raspberries](https://www.waybeyond.io/crops/raspberry-production?hsLang=en) - [Other crops](https://www.waybeyond.io/crops/high-value-crop-production?hsLang=en) Customers - [Enterprise growers](https://www.waybeyond.io/customers/fresh-produce-growers?hsLang=en) - [Seed producers](https://www.waybeyond.io/customers/vegetable-seed-producers?hsLang=en) - [Customer stories](https://www.waybeyond.io/customer-stories?hsLang=en) Quick links - [Company](https://www.waybeyond.io/about/company?hsLang=en) - [FarmRoad](https://www.waybeyond.io/farmroad-crop-management-software?hsLang=en) - [GrowPilot](https://www.waybeyond.io/growpilot?hsLang=en) - [Contact](https://www.waybeyond.io/contact-us?hsLang=en) - [News](https://www.waybeyond.io/es/news?hsLang=en) - [Investors](https://www.waybeyond.io/about/investors?hsLang=en) - [Resources](https://www.waybeyond.io/resources?hsLang=en) ©2026 WayBeyond. 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