C L I M AT E C H A N G E A N D S U STA I N A B I L I T Y
Bram Bernhard took to the Holland House stage at Trade Fair Aalsmeer on Wednesday, 3 November 2021, to accept the Greenovation award from Royal FloraHolland boss Stefan van Schilfgaarde.
GREENOVATION OR FRUSTRATION? BERNHARD NURSERIES HAS THE ANSWER Dutch-based ornamentals grower Bernhard Nurseries recently won the 2021 Royal FloraHolland Greenovation Award. While Bram Bernhard sees the prestigious prize as a boost for the company’s
AUTHOR: RON VAN DER PLOEG PHOTOS: BIANCA FENNE
geothermal and solar projects, he does not always feel rightly rewarded for helping cut emissions.
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ernhard Nurseries is a third-generation cut rose, potted phalaenopsis and bedding plant grower in Flevoland, the Netherlands’ ‘newest’ province, mainly created on post-WWII land reclaimed from the sea. The company grows three million phalaenopsis in 12cm pots for the higher end of the market, a wide range of five million bedding and patio plants, plus 25 million stems of ‘Avalanche+’ roses under a combined 25ha of glass. At Bernhard Nurseries, run by brothers Bram and Simon Bernhard, a high level of sustainability (and thus a minimal footprint on the environment) is achieved through several operational practices. Such
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JANUARY 2022
as integrated pest management systems eliminating the need for chemicals and solar electricity production combined with geothermal energy used to heat the nursery’s greenhouses where Elegant phalaenopsis occupy pride of place.
AN EXTREMELY COMPLEX ENDEAVOUR Set against a backdrop of applause, Bram Bernhard took to the Holland House stage at Trade Fair Aalsmeer on Wednesday, 3 November 2021, to accept the Greenovation award from auction boss Stefan van Schilfgaarde. Royal FloraHolland’s annual accolade recognises horticultural companies which have demonstrated exceptional
leadership and achievements in the field of sustainability. Two months later, Bernhard still feels honoured that he received the award, seeing it as a recognition for something he calls “an extremely complex endeavour”. He references the needed permits, red tape, various strict regulations, and the debate on nitrogen oxides (Nox) emissions. “For all the bureaucracy, we managed to get the project done and this award crowns many years of hard work and perseverance.” There is no doubt that his continued efforts not always have been easy. At times, society and government seemed reluctant to embrace geothermal energy fully. Bram notes, “In 1959, Exxon Mobil and Shell discovered Europe’s
