Late last October, I was able to tour the Netherlands as part of the
Sustainability Initiative project hosted by the Office of the Dutch
Agricultural Counselor in Washington.
The goal was to explore technologies and techniques related to
sustainable horticulture in the Netherlands. The six-day tour included
visits to leading research labs and commercial greenhouse operations.
There is a website dedicated to the program at www.thesustainabilityinitiative.org.
The Dutch industry has long been a world leader in horticulture, and
the tour helped me understand at least one of the factors needed to get
to that level – close co-operation, even among competitors.
Here are just a couple of examples.
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Plantum NL represents the Dutch agricultural and horticultural breeding
and propagating industry at the government level, with a goal of
creating international awareness and a common vision for the sector’s
future. Plantum represents some 500 businesses in floriculture,
horticulture and agriculture in discussions with government bodies,
social organizations and other parties involved in agribusiness.
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The Improvement Centre, located next door to the Wageningen UR
facilities, includes 11 separate greenhouse research compartments of
about 1,000 square metres each. Companies can work on their own, or
with others, on projects, and the work at the time of our visit
included harvesting robotics and LED vegetable crop lighting.
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The Seed Valley Foundation represents breeders in the area between
Enkhuizen and Alkmaar, which have enjoyed great success in plant
breeding and seed technology for several decades. Established in 2008,
the Foundation is working to educate young people about career
opportunities in breeding. “There is a strong demand among companies
for specialists at all levels,” says the Foundation. The breeders are
working co-operatively to attract young specialists … perhaps to a
competitor.
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The MPS Certification program, which began in 1995 as an environmental
project of the Westland flower auctions, is now in more than 50
countries. Growers get feedback
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on how efficient they are in comparison to colleagues with similar
crops; most say this improved productivity easily offsets the cost of
registration. Many European retailers insist on MPS certification.
What’s the take-home message?
We’ve got to work together, and do so for the long haul.
Flowers Canada Growers, as an example, can help growers here work more
co-operatively, pooling resources for the common good. And there are
provincial greenhouse associations in many provinces that also play an
important role. Perhaps it’s time to consider working under a single
umbrella organization – growers of ornamentals and vegetables, and from
all regions – to tackle common issues and lobby government on key
matters, such as opening the grid for increased cogen investment.
There is strength in numbers, as the Dutch experience suggests. We need
to work together. Co-operation, even among competitors, is essential to
grow the industry.
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