ADVISOR CHRISTOFFEL DEN HERDER ON GOING ORGANIC:
‘IT TAKES A DIFFERENT MINDSET’ AS ANY ORGANIC GROWER WHO STARTED OUT WORKING CONVENTIONALLY KNOWS, THERE’S A LOT MORE TO CONVERSION THAN JUST DITCHING THE SPRAYS AND ARTIFICIAL FERTILIZERS. AGRICULTURAL CONSULTANT CHRISTOFFEL DEN HERDER KNOWS THE CHALLENGES. “GROWERS WHO CHOOSE ORGANIC ARE ENTREPRENEURS WHO DON’T WANT TO BE A NUMBER,” HE SAYS.
CROP KNOWLEDGE AND VARIETYSPECIFIC ADVICE Organic arable farmers and market gardeners include a greater range of crops in their rotation plans than their non-organic colleagues and often opt for different varieties. Bejo offers a wide selection of seeds, with more than 35 crops and more than 170 varieties suitable for organic cultivation. Our specialists support organic growers with extensive crop knowledge and advice on specific varieties.
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BEJO ORGANIC MAGAZINE
When they think of organic, the first thing outsiders think of is farming without chemical pesticides and artificial fertilizers. But that’s only part of the story, says agricultural consultant Christoffel den Herder. “Organic cultivation is a whole different way of working. With chemical agents, if you have a problem you can actually fix it afterward. Organic growers have to act in a much more preventative way. You have to know more than the average grower about the crop and the soil. How does the crop look, how deep are the roots, what is the soil going to do, what can you expect with regard to weeds and insect pests, what’s the weather going to do?” He concludes, “You have to look at least two weeks ahead and dare to base your cultivation decisions on that.” Den Herder speaks from plenty of experience as an advisor on organic arable farming and field vegetables. Previously with the consultancy Delphy, he now works independently under the name Ceres Horti Advice, assisting clients in the Netherlands and abroad. Practically speaking, a farm’s conversion to organic begins as soon as it registers that first field with the authorities. By that point, Den Herder says, the entrepreneur has been thinking about it for a long time. “First of all, you have to discuss
