Where nature meets innovation
Green Business Westland / autumn 2018
Green Business > GROWING THE FUTURE
Interview: Rem Koolhaas
“Westland as a global benchmark for best practice” | 12 & 13
Westland is the centre of the world’s main greenhouse horticulture cluster. It continues to innovate thanks to the synergy created by the business community, education institutions and government organisations. It is the logistics hub of Europe. And it produces high-quality food, flowers and plants innovatively and sustainably.
“We will apply our knowledge in Asia’s first large-scale urban farm” | 7 In conversation with Wouter Vos, chairman of the Urban Farming Partners consortium.
“Saving up to 50% on energy and improved cultivation through Daylight Greenhouse” | 18 The world’s first Daylight Greenhouse is in Westland. Edith Bentvelsen of Ter Laak Orchids tells us more.
“International delegations find their way to World Horti Center” | 23 Erwin Cardol had the pleasure of welcoming visitors from no fewer than 51 countries.
Pioneering solutions to meet global challenges
Facts and figures
607
greenhouse horticulture businesses (CBS 2018)
4,500 hectares
of Greenport area (CBS 2018)
Westland is a dynamic municipality. In this relatively small area of just 9,000 hectares, we come up with
With the opening of the World Horti Center, the region
pioneering solutions to global challenges. We produce
now has a campus where the business community,
high-quality food products, flowers and plants, sustainably
education and government can come together. This
and innovatively, to improve the well-being and welfare of
international hub is also the main innovation centre of
people all over the world.
the global greenhouse horticulture sector, where business, research, demonstration, teaching and learning converge.
The Westland area is the world’s main greenhouse
It is also where local and international greenhouse
horticulture cluster. Over the last 120 years, Westland
companies innovate and do business.
has become the international hotspot when it comes to
74% of the top Dutch horticulture sector is located in Westland
growing indoor crops. As early as 1918, Westland growers
Westland’s geographical location is unique. Situated
started planting indoors to extend the growing season
close to Schiphol airport and the port of Rotterdam,
of their tomato crop. The development and exchange of
our logistics hub can reach 500 million European
knowledge make innovation possible. An unparalleled
customers within 24 hours. Our mentality is our defining
cluster of greenhouse horticulture companies and
feature: we work hard and efficiently, while always looking
related industries: from importers, exporters and
for ways to create synergy through partnerships. Many
packaging and repackaging companies to growers,
companies have chosen to establish their business in
breeders, R&D, suppliers, transporters and warehouses.
Westland.
A cluster like this concentrated in such a small area is found nowhere else in the world.
(Source: Municipality Westland)
Fresh product chain Westland region
westlandhortibusiness.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2006 €2.5 Bn
€2.7 Bn
€2.9 Bn
2016 €2.5 Bn
€3.9 Bn
€4.5 Bn
2026 €2.9 Bn
€7.3 Bn
€8.4 Bn
Production
Import
Export
(Source: BCI, Ministery of Economic Affairs
3 Foreword Minister Schouten /
en I&M 2016)
4 & 5 UN goals / 7 Future of food / 8 & 9 International / 11 News / 12 & 13 Interview Rem Koolhaas / 15 - 18 Energy / 21 Q&A / 23 World Horti Center / 24 & 25 Young talent / 26 - 29 Logistics /
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Westland connects all links in the chain. Watch the Chain Connection:
FOREWORD CAROLA SCHOUTEN
Westland incubator of our economy Last year, I had the honour of opening the World Horti Center. It was fascinating. I knew that horticulture scored high on innovation and improvement, but it turned out to be a wondrous world of repotting systems, insect cultivation, energy drawn from the depths of the earth, high-tech seeds from the freezer, new material sourced from plant residues and lettuce and other vegetables grown on water or in an indoor car park. It’s as close as you can get to science fiction.
You notice similar forward-looking innovations when you drive through Westland. Past purple or blue LED-lit greenhouses, towns and horticultural villages, dead-straight ditches and roads cutting right through the landscape of patterned plots. To foreign visitors, these are signs of a country ahead of its time. For many years, Westland has been the incubator of our economy, operating day and night, highly efficient in terms of logistics and indispensable for our international export position. It is home to entrepreneurs who enjoy experimenting and innovating. They often draw on years of knowledge and experience and have the backing of a wider entrepreneurial family. They also have specialised, well-trained employees.
“More and more people want to know how their tomatoes, strawberries and Brussels sprouts are grown or whether they are grown nearby, perhaps by someone they know.” At the same time, innovations in food production are about so much more. It’s extremely important that the inspired changes we see are also valued within society and are in step with how people perceive food. Some questions don’t seem very relevant in our country, while others are asked a lot. More and more people want to know how their tomatoes, strawberries and Brussels sprouts are grown or whether they are grown nearby, perhaps by someone they know. How do we source raw materials and treat waste, and what are we doing for the climate? From seed to plate, what routes do our fruit and vege tables take? What can we do together to combat hunger and poverty on the other side of the world? Fortunately, many Dutch horticulturists are actively engaged with these questions and concerns. I see this in the international projects they set up. I also see it in their values and willingness to create more closed-loop cycles. I’m proud of that too, because this encourages innovations that can lead to genuine improvements and provide answers to the challenges we face.
Carola Schouten Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality
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UN GOALS
UN goals zero hunger
good health and well-being
clean water and sanitation
affordable and clean energy
decent work and economic growth
responsible consumption and production
climate action
life on land
A strong horticulture cluster to make the world better Across the 9,000 hectares of land that comprise Westland, we are striving to put knowledge and innovation into practice to help achieve specific UN Sustainable Development Goals, such as no more hunger, good health and well-being, reduced energy and fossil fuel use and cleaner water. Working towards these goals is a common thread that unites the region’s industrious horticulture sector.
Healthy people make an even better contribution to UN goals Good health and well-being comprise one of the eight UN goals that horticulture contributes to. Not only do companies in Westland work towards these Sustainable Development Goals through their business processes, they also have a keen eye for their employees’ health.
Micro vegetable grower Koppert Cress dreams of
Nature’s Pride, which supplies over 250 unique fruits
The Priva campus in De Lier has a healthy company
making the Netherlands the healthiest delta region in
and vegetables, also has a professional chef working in
restaurant too, where a chef prepares delicious meals
the world. Humans have always eaten plants and a little
its restaurant. The company’s aim is to make the world
daily, also according to Dutch cuisine principles. This
protein and vegetables produced in Westland green-
healthier and more sustainable. “In addition to a freshly
family-owned business is a market leader in the field
houses offer many opportunities in terms of medical
prepared lunch, each morning we treat our employees
of climate and process automation for greenhouse
science and the prevention of lifestyle diseases. Kop-
to a fresh smoothie with all the necessary vitamins,”
horticulture as well as for other buildings. Priva aims
pert Cress translates its vision into practice and offers
says Kim van Ouwerkerk, senior HR advisor. “Next to
to contribute to a better world by anticipating future
employees a taste of delicacies sourced from the ‘West-
the company building is a bootcamp site, where all
food production and urbanisation. A year ago, Priva
land fresh pharmacy’ in the company restaurant, Rob &
employees have the chance to do physical exercises
got its own ‘fitness box’ where employees can take
Bob. Chef Robert van Kruijssen explains: “On working
under the supervision of a sports instructor,” explains
CrossFit and Pilates lessons under supervision. This
days, I cook according to the principles of Dutch
Van Ouwerkerk. “Various sessions are provided five
initiative has had a very good response. One employee
cuisine. Each day, the menu includes a soup, a sandwich
times a week to help improve employees’ physical
says, “I’ve been exercising much more often since we
or a seasonal salad. Each dish has lots of vegetables
health and strength. Several sports events are also
got ‘the box’. Being able to train immediately before
(80%), no salt and no artificial additives. Salt-free,
organised each year, such as our own ‘Nature’s Cross’,
or after work saves a lot of time. It’s also very good
especially, took some getting used to for the em-
where we run with colleagues, friends and family for
for team building with other colleagues and is always
ployees. Where possible, the ingredients I source
charity. Our health and safety service, physiotherapist
a lot of fun!”
are organic, fair trade and locally produced. By using
and lifestyle coach all support the company’s health-
priva.com
this approach, our company restaurant has become
related policies.”
the first CO2-neutral restaurant in the Netherlands!”
naturespride.nl
koppertcress.com
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UN GOALS
“Over the past few years, we have seen the emergence of many 3D printing applications that use plastic or metals as raw material. As far as food is concerned, this production method has not yet really caught on. A lot of research is being carried out into the possibilities, but until now this has not gone beyond the research stage or ‘fun’ applications, for example using chocolate, sugar or edible doughs. We’re not aiming to print tomatoes with peel, seeds and flesh, but we do want to come up with other applications in partnership with Oceanz 3D.”
“We’re not aiming to print tomatoes with peel, seeds and flesh.”
Research:
Combating food waste with 3D food printing?
After a career in the bakery and supermarket sector, Kesteloo moved from Wageningen to the west two years ago and is now working on various projects involving fresh vegetables and the market. “DOOR is an independent cooperative of growers of fruiting vegetables like peppers, cucumbers, aubergines and tomatoes. In total, we represent 553 hectares of greenhouses and 48 horticulturists in three Dutch provinces. We supply supermarkets across Europe through chain partners,” says Kesteloo. “Because I’m not from Westland or a family of horticulturists or indeed the fresh produce sector, I am able to look at the market from a different perspective. I can therefore use all my knowledge and experience of trends, market data, innovations and market insights for the benefit of the organisation.”
The retail market has a growing number of variants and packaging types for fresh produce. Specifications and
“Which parts of vegetables can we use as
requirements are becoming increasingly specific, such as
high-quality raw material for 3D printing?”
vine tomato packaging for five or six tomatoes. To meet this demand, tomatoes are sometimes cut from the vine. Some may also have a dent or a tear, which means they cannot be used for that purpose and thus become residue. What happens to this residue? Part of it is processed into dried tomatoes or tapenade for restaurants. But this still leaves many kilos of tomato residue. The DOOR cooperative is examining whether it is possible to reach 100% use of
In seeking a solution for the food waste issue, Kesteloo came into contact with Oceanz 3D, market leader in 3D printing. “We are currently working on a technical feasibility study and have many questions, such as ‘Which parts of vegetables can we use as high-quality raw material for 3D printing?’ and ‘Is 3D vegetable printing in line with the new trend of per sonalised nutrition and can it make an important contribution to consumer health in the future?’ Another potential application is 3D printing to make the tomato more compact. This means you have less volume to transport and can therefore reduce CO2 emissions and save on logistics costs.” It will still be a few years before we all have 3D printed tomato products on our plates, however. Kesteloo concludes, “The feasibility study will take at least
the product through 3D food printing. Martijn Kesteloo,
another year and developing a new type of 3D printer will also take time. And then there’s
business developer, explains:
cooperatiedoor.nl | oceanz.eu
commodities legislation that does not yet exist in this area.”
Figures
9 billion people on Earth in 2050
70% of food production is small-scale Source: Tomatoworld
50% of the world’s population has no reliable food source
15% of the global population is overweight
Tomatoworld exhibits solutions for global challenges Westland has solutions for global challenges. One of the biggest challenges is: how are we going to feed the world? At Tomatoworld, growers showcase their knowledge and innovations, many of which are focused on ensuring sufficient food availability for a growing world population and dealing with water and fossil fuel scarcity. The exhibition presents the kind of contributions the Dutch horticulture sector can make. You can also see, at first hand, the cultivation of more than 60 varieties of tomatoes. Tomatoworld welcomes visits from business partners in the supply chain, retailers, students, pupils and international delegations. tomatoworld.nl
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WITH PASSION WE DELIVER DAILY THE MOST UNIQUE & TASTEFUL FRUITS & VEGETABLES
Nature’s Pride | Honderdland 611 | 2676 LV Maasdijk | Holland T. +31 (0)174 525 900 | E. info@naturespride.nl | www.naturespride.eu
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FUTURE OF FOOD
Personalised nutrition: business opportunities for horticulture, fewer healthcare costs
DNA Foodbox The DNA Foodbox is a concrete example of personalised food. Consumers collect DNA through
Doctors prescribing a diet of vegetables. Treating prostate
a cheek swab with a DNA kit and send this to Omnigen to be analysed.
cancer and Type 2DM diabetes with vegetables instead
The results are then used to compile
of medication. Top athletes performing better courtesy of
a nutrient profile. Amsterdam-based
a daily menu with balanced nutrients. A childcare centre
food shop Bilder & de Clercq devises recipes suited to the profile
wanting to give children food that is beneficial to their
and puts together a food box.
dnafoodbox.com
development. A future in which personalised nutrition is a common thread in health policy is fastapproaching. It will bring many business opportunities for the Dutch horticulture sector due to the growing demand for fresh produce. And because of the reduction in health
nutrition and health. “You could, for example, put together a diet based on someone’s
care costs, it will also be a major gain for the government. To bring this vision of the future
DNA or physical condition, but that’s still quite uncommon. One of the reasons for this is
to life, vers+ provides reliable insight into which nutrients are found in which vegetables
the relative lack of knowledge about which nutrients are present in which vegetables and
and makes this knowledge available across the entire chain, from breeder to buyer.
in which quantities,” says Van der Lely.
“Everything around us is becoming more per
Nutrients She explains, “Acquiring more knowledge about what ‘fresh’ actually means would
sonalised. In fact, consumers are clamouring for it.
benefit our health and could be advantageous in various other situations and sectors,
Meanwhile, what does the food industry offer?”
Group and Koppert Cress launched vers+, with the support of InnovationQuarter and
including company catering, child care and professional sports.” That is why Best Fresh the Municipality of Westland. According to Van der Lely, “The horticulture sector’s
Natasja van der Lely of vers+: “Everything around us is becoming more personalised. In
speciality is fresh produce. Together, we must first demonstrate precisely which nutrients
fact, consumers are clamouring for it. Meanwhile, what does the food industry offer? One
can be found in particular vegetables and make them available to the market. At vers+,
size fits all! Everyone wants to be healthy. But it’s rare for a doctor to prescribe a diet that
we’re creating a database for this which our partners can use to develop healthy
consists for the most part of fresh vegetables instead of pills.” It’s hardly surprising, then,
nutritional concepts. A pilot is already underway to study the effect of lycopene,
that fresh vegetables currently play a negligible role in the development of personalised
a nutrient contained in tomatoes, on prostate cancer.” versplus.com
Column Rob Baan
The future of our food Horticulture’s raison d’être has always been to keep the city healthy. It was when the first cities emerged that the profession of farmer and horticulturist came into being: someone had to start producing the food that we had previously collected and cultivated ourselves. In the 10,000 years since then, agriculture and horticulture have become highly sophisticated and industrialised. It is therefore a disgrace that there are still so many hungry and malnourished people today. What’s also bizarre is that in our cities more people are now dying of bad, nutrient-poor food than of hunger. Add to this the fact that air pollution in cities is so high that it is affecting average life expectancy and you can see we have a huge problem. Horticulture can solve many of these issues. Using the latest DNA technologies, we can now identify which vegetables are best suited to our genome. And our research into the air-filtering capacity of plants will allow us to provide energy and oxygen to buildings so that people can feel and function better. There is huge potential in these technological applications. This year, for instance, we held a vers+ dinner in Westland. Under strict privacy requirements, guests provided samples of their DNA to Omnigen, a company that can find out the most suitable nutritional profile for each individual. Omnigen can also specify which nutrients (such as folic acid) certain people find easy or difficult to absorb. This research showed that there are nine profiles or main types of person, each with a specific nutritional need.
Rob Baan is the owner of the
But just as no two people are alike, no two tomato types are the same either. There are huge differences in phytonutrients per
international micro-vegetable
variety, and we can measure these differences, often with existing equipment. Dutch horticulture can become a frontrunner
company Koppert Cress and
in producing the healthiest, most sustainable and tastiest vegetables in the world. The opportunity is there for the taking;
chairman of the Westland
it’s just a matter of time and priority.
Marketing Foundation. His mission: “Let’s take
By using different seeds, lighting, cultivation techniques and harvest moments, all focused on optimising nutritional value, we
a fresh look at natural food
as horticultural heroes can continue to show the way forward on the world market. Together with various faculties of health,
and health.” robbaan.com
we can start using fruit and vegetables for what they were once intended: to make the city healthy again.
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INTERNATIONAL
“We will apply our knowledge in Asia’s first large-scale urban farm” Asia’s first large-scale urban farm is scheduled to be operational in Singapore by the end of 2019. Urban Farming Partners, a consortium of Dutch experts in horticulture and urban development, is applying its knowledge and experience in one of the most densely populated regions in the world. Wouter Vos, chairman and co-initiator of the consortium, tells us more below. “Over the course of the past 20 years, I’ve seen Asian
Urban Farming Partners has an extensive range of
Circular and sustainable
cities bursting at the seams. Urbanisation has expanded
in-house expertise to deal with the complexity of the
Not only will the local production site be sustainable,
massively. This got me thinking about where these cities
chain. “A chain-wide approach, from seed to consumer,
but the farm itself will also be equipped with the latest
will get their fresh food from, especially in cultures
is essential to scale up successfully. We are developing
technology. Vos says, “The UN Sustainable Develop-
with such an enormously rich and diverse cuisine. That’s
such a strategy in Singapore with the support of the
ment Goals (see page 4) are high on the agenda of all
how I discovered that Singapore imports over 90% of its
Netherlands Enterprise Agency, the implementation
stakeholders. Each partner has a different focus: one on
fresh fruit and vegetables.” The idea for Urban Farming
body of the Ministry of Economic Affairs,” says Vos.
energy, for instance, and another on cultivation. This all
Partners was conceived three years ago. Vos says,
He notes that Singapore was a conscious choice, as it
comes together in the urban farm.” Vos argues that,
“I thought that with all the knowledge and technology
is an economically and politically stable country that
in any event, closed cultivation is more sustainable than
available in Westland, we should not miss this
has placed sustainability high on the agenda. “Singa
open cultivation. He continues, “We really are in control
opportunity. We are going to grow fresh produce
pore aims to reduce its dependency on neighbouring
of the climate inside the greenhouse. Indoor cultivation
in a multi-layered, closed environment in an existing
countries for the most essential resources like water,
needs a lot of energy for which we want to use green
building. The feasibility study is almost complete,
energy and food. It is also one of the most densely
energy, such as solar. We shall also collect rainwater
which means that we can start preparing for the next
populated regions in Asia and space for growing food
and use CO2 emissions from the port of Singapore. We
stages. In June 2019, we shall start renovating the
is very scarce,” explains Vos.
have partnered with Nanyang Technological University,
existing building. By the end of next year, the farm should be ready for the cultivation of various lettuce
Dutch business sector
varieties, baby leaves and herbs.”
A 6,000-square-metre urban farm with a cultivation
a good idea of just how sustainable the concept is.
area of 20,000 square metres in Singapore. You might
The results will be used for technical performance
wonder what would induce the Dutch government and
estimates.”
Economies of scale
This university is performing a lifecycle analysis to get
According to Vos, there’s currently a lot of experimen-
business sector to invest in this. “By developing the first
tation with urban farming in Asia. He explains, “But up
commercial urban farm in Singapore, we are placing our
Sharing knowledge
until now, this has mainly been by small-scale farms of a
knowledge and expertise in the spotlight. Transforming
Although the urban farm will be managed from Singa
few hundred square metres. The development of these
this into a Dutch success will be an enormous boost
pore, Dutch knowhow will be used to train employees
urban farms often lacks an integrated approach and
for exporting knowledge and technology,” says Vos.
locally. Vos says, “This mainly concerns knowledge of
the strength that can be derived from having a larger
According to Vos, “In the future, the Dutch business
high-end technologies and coordinating these inno
commercial scale. We are doing it differently: to make
sector must stand for high-quality, cutting-edge food
vations. There are also plans to cooperate with Dutch
production economically profitable, our approach
production techniques. With fast-growing urbanisation,
universities of applied sciences so that students can
focuses on the entire food chain.”
it is not realistic, given the enormous carbon footprint,
gain practical experience while on internship abroad.
to continue to import and export everything. Local
We not only intend to share knowledge this way but
“A chain-wide approach, from
production sites are much more sustainable. For us,
also aim to train future Dutch professionals to run
this project is a stepping stone to the rest of the world.
these and other urban farms.”
seed to consumer, is essential
Besides Asia’s big cities, the Gulf region and Caribbean
urbanfarmingpartners.sg
to scale up successfully.”
self-sufficient.”
Artist impression: Urban Farm Singapore (Kuiper Compagnons)
“By developing the first commercial urban farm in Singapore, we are placing our knowledge and expertise in the spotlight.”
8
one of Singapore’s leading educational establishments.
countries also want to rely less on imports and be more
Jiashan County: Yangtze River Delta most developed economic region in China 20 minutes to Shanghai by high-speed rail line 30 million Chinese consumers
INTERNATIONAL
In the coming years, China and the Netherlands will intensify cooperation in the field of greenhouse horticulture.
Go ahead for Chinese High-Tech Agriculture Park with Horti Center “Within five years, the Dutch business sector will have the opportunity at Sino-Dutch High-Tech Agriculture Park to demonstrate the most advanced greenhouse horticulture projects,” says Hein van der Sande, president of Dutch Greenhouse Delta, a foundation which was established in September 2017 to market the Dutch greenhouse horticulture sector worldwide. Dutch Greenhouse Delta focuses on large-scale, complex projects and issues related to food and floriculture in growing mega-cities. The Sino-Dutch initiative is one of the first projects.
Artist impression: Sino-Dutch High-Tech Agriculture Park (Kuiper Compagnons)
In China, construction is now underway on an area of 420 hectares, comparable to 10% of the Westland greenhouse area. “This agriculture park is part of Jiashan Sino-Dutch
As the international market leader in greenhouse horticulture with a strong cluster in Westland, the Netherlands has been exchanging
Industrial Park, which has been in development since 2014,” explains Van der Sande. “Sino-Dutch is currently the only leading innovation park with industry-wide cooperation between China and the Netherlands. It is also home to Heineken’s largest brewery in Asia.”
knowledge with Asian countries for decades. Countries like China
“The signing of the memorandum of understanding kick-started this project, which will
want to use ‘our’ expertise and high-tech innovations to grow food
be a genuine impulse for the Dutch greenhouse horticulture sector,” says Van der Sande.
and flowers sustainably. In the future, the Sino-Dutch High-Tech
“We can now further intensify the exchange of knowledge and strategies for business
Agriculture Park and Horti Center will form the platform for a more intensive exchange of knowledge and technology in China’s most important economic delta. In October 2018, a strategic memorandum
development. We look forward to long-term strategic cooperation in all areas, from R&D to education and from marketing to technology. The Horti Center in the Sino-Dutch High-Tech Agriculture Park will become the most important platform for the greenhouse horticulture cluster over there.”
of understanding was signed between Dutch Greenhouse Delta and
Some 14 greenhouse horticulture enterprises along with Rabobank and two trade
Jiashan Sino-Dutch Industrial Park in the presence of Chinese Prime
organisations – AVAG and LTO Glaskracht – are currently affiliated with Dutch Greenhouse
Minister Li Keqiang and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
represented in this joint venture. dutchgreenhousedelta.com
Delta, which means that over 100 companies in the greenhouse horticulture cluster are
Leading Indian university exchanges knowledge and students with the Lentiz Education Group in the World Horti Center Westland shares its knowledge with other countries in various
the growing demand for food in a healthy way,” says De Wit.
ways. In May 2018, a memorandum of understanding was
“Last year, we welcomed dozens of delegations to Naaldwijk,
concluded between the World Horti Center and Amity University
where they were able to take a look at how we do things.
in India. This leading university in Mumbai has partnered with
This year, the educational programme is taking shape in both
Lentiz Education Group, which is based in the World Horti Center.
countries. Amity University, for example, is developing food,
“In India, there
“We exchange students and knowledge. India is eager to embed
horticulture and supply chain modules.”
is great interest
Netherlands has to offer into the curriculum of its educational
Amity also sends Indian students to the Netherlands for a six-week
in concepts like
institutions,” explains Director of Westland Marketing Angelique
internship. De Wit continues, “This helps them gain insight into
de Wit, who on behalf of the relevant organisations confirmed
our working methods in the agri-food and horticulture sectors,
the World Horti
the intention to cooperate in the presence of Prime Minister Mark
from controlled greenhouses to cultivation techniques. They are
Center.”
Rutte and Ministers Sigrid Kaag (Foreign Trade and Development
accompanied by Indian employees from India’s food industry and
Cooperation) and Carola Schouten (Agriculture, Nature and Food
together they visit companies and attend seminars organised for
Quality).
them.” Lentiz students also get the opportunity to complete part
the horticultural expertise, technology and products which the
of their training programme in India. “This allows them to become “In India, there is great interest in concepts like the World Horti
acquainted with other cultures and doing business abroad. It also
Center. The country faces the enormous challenge of modern
contributes to their personal development, which they will benefit
ising agriculture, horticulture and food processing and meeting
from in their future careers.” worldhorticenter.nl
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ADVERTORIAL
DÜMMEN ORANGE REDUCES CHEMICAL CONTROL BY 80% ’Applying natural enemies instead of applying pesticides‘ ’No chemicals‘ has been standard in vegetable horticulture for years. In the production of flowers and plants this demand is only now growing fast. Manuela van Leeuwen, Phytosanitary officer and Coordinator global sustainability with Dümmen Orange says: ’Think of the discussion of last year’s summer on bee mortality. We fully accept that demand.‘ PREDATORY MITES AND NEMATODES In 2015 Dümmen Orange had already started with the introduction of a GreenGuard protocol which reduces chemical inputs by 80%. Van Leeuwen: ’We started on our potted Chrysanthemum farm in Uganda. Together with Koppert, worldwide supplier of beneficial insects, we developed a protocol that made it possible to produce cuttings of good quality with minimal use of chemicals. We used predatory mites and parasitising nematodes
instead. This was not easy in Uganda… it took a year of discussion to import these beneficial insects into the country. Once permission was granted we started training our staff.‘ SCOUTS ’The ”scouts“, employees checking the crop daily for pests and diseases, had to change their way of working. Formerly only checking crops and monitoring traps for pests, they now had to monitor for natural enemies as well. Van Leeuwen: ”The entire system depends on having good scouts. They are the critical eye. They have to recognise all possible pests and any problems with the natural enemies at a very early stage, enabling immediate corrective action.‘ From both Koppert and Dümmen Orange staff travelled regularly to Uganda to train staff. Van Leeuwen: ’It struck me that people considered working with insects rather ludicrous in the beginning. People preferred to be a ”chemical
scout“ rather than a ”biological scout“. That has now reversed completely. Everybody, all employees, retailers, and consumers, have understood that this is the only way forward. Growers stand very strong with these chemical-poor cuttings, making it possible to start with an IPM system themselves.‘ 100% GREENGUARD-PROOF A few years have now passed and the Dümmen Orange GreenGuard policy continues to grow strong steadily. The potted Chrysanthemums from Uganda are now 100% GreenGuard proof, as are the Pelargonium Peltatum cuttings from Kenya. Van Leeuwen: ’Different rules apply for every country and every crop. But we have now gained the experience needed with Integrated Pest Management (IPM). For potted Chrysanthemums we have been the first one going for 100% IPM cuttings. And now we continue with vigour!‘
See what‘s blooming at DummenOrange.com 10
NEWS
New innovation centres in Westland Westland exports vegetables, fruit, flowers and supply materials. But it is also increasingly establishing itself as a leading knowledge centre. After two years of research, greenhouse builder Certhon opened its brand new Innovation Centre in the spring of 2018. The centre will enable Certhon to continue developing its technology for cultivation without daylight. The new facility has eight growth chambers with an area of 240 square metres. These chambers contain tomato, pepper, raspberry and strawberry plants in a completely closed environment. Different varieties and conditions are tested using advanced techno logy. This form of trial cultivation gives Certhon information it can use not only to advise customers on vertical farming but also to optimise technical systems. In May 2018, Rijk Zwaan opened a new Seed Quality Center (SQC), accommodating 65 employees. Fully dedicated to quality, the SQC comprises a laboratory building, a hall with climate chambers and a
Digital maps, trade relations and innovations
greenhouse. Additional space has been created for growth, modern isation and the application of new seed quality technology. All seeds that leave Rijk Zwaan must meet very high-quality standards and the departments working on this are now housed in the SQC. In addition, global breeder Dümmen Orange is currently building the world’s largest technological centre for plant and flower breeding in De Lier. The laboratory will open in 2019. certhon.com | rijkzwaan.nl |
dummenorange.com
The Netherlands is the global frontrunner in horti culture. Some 70% of the top Dutch horticulture companies are based in Westland. This small region makes a huge contribution in helping to achieve various UN goals, such as food safety and food security. Westland is not only innovating at full speed but is developing many international trade relations as well. This ‘inside’ information can now be viewed by everyone via a series of digital maps. New! WestlandWorldwide: international connections on digital world map The Westland business sector has developed many commercial ties
across the world. In collaboration with Westland Marketing, Ard Dekker has visualised international connections and trade relations on a digital world map with WestlandWorldwide. This will make it possible
ADVERTORIAL
“Heat grid is the future of Westland” Heat, CO2 and irrigation water Warmtebedrijf Westland is an initiative by and for entrepreneurs in Westland. Gerard Hofman is the driving force behind this company, which will supply the Westland greenhouse horticulture sector with heat, CO2 and irrigation water from 2021.
Why is a open heat grid the future for Westland? Warmtebedrijf Westland wants to contribute towards strengthening the region’s
to accelerate cooperation between companies and business parks,
economic position and help create a healthy environment for everyone who lives and
research institutions, educational establishments and governments.
works in Westland. In the coming years, we will develop a open heat grid from the port
A concrete example of its application is in preparing trade missions
of Rotterdam so that growers can benefit from residual heat as well as heat from
abroad. The map makes it easier to trace which trade relations already
geothermal sources. This unique combination will provide sufficient capacity to operate
exist and can therefore be a source for developing potential new trade.
completely without gas and will thus upgrade the Westland greenhouse horticulture
Those behind this initiative also want to inspire students and young
economy to Energy 2.0. Our starting point is: no fluctuating costs, but fixed prices;
professionals. The map will allow companies with internships abroad
no uncertainty, but constant supply. We shall therefore be able to face the competition
and international career opportunities to showcase themselves.
and will make greenhouse horticulture more sustainable and profitable, both now and
New theme maps for innovations in water management, energy and robotics Innovations and solutions within the Dutch horticulture sector and
in the future.
How much will customers pay for heating? Businesses can opt for short- or long-term contracts with a fixed price, which means
across Westland will also be placed on the digital map. The Municipality
peace of mind. Our benchmark is the CHP: our cost price must compete with this,
of Westland and InnovationQuarter are using three interactive maps
including the additional electricity purchases. The more heat a customer purchases,
to provide insight into innovations and solutions in Dutch greenhouse
the lower the price.
horticulture, focusing on the themes of water, energy, robotics and data. Each innovation is accompanied by an explanation, videos, photos and an overview of users, suppliers and projects. The map
Will growers be expected to make investments? No, apart from paying for a one-time connection, they will not have to invest anything,
can also be published on other websites as a separate application.
not even in heat pumps or low-temperature networks. We will supply temperatures that
westlandhortibusiness.com
are suitable for horticulture, between 80 and 90°C. This is comparable to the heat that comes from CHPs. warmtewestland.nl 11
INTERVIEW REM KOOLHAAS
Westland as a global benchmark for best practice World-renowned architect Rem Koolhaas visited Westland at least 10 times last year and concludes, “Westland is a global benchmark for best practice.” Koolhaas has translated this conclusion into ‘Countryside: Future of the World’, an exhibition at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, scheduled to open in February 2020.
“More than 50% of the world’s population lives in cities,” explains Koolhaas. “But cities only represent 2% of global surface area. So basically we’re ignoring 98% of the world. We want to use this multimedia exhibition to highlight the radical transformations taking place in rural areas and to stimulate discussion. Westland is one of the areas we’re showcasing as an example of how we can feed the planet’s growing population responsibly.” In addition to Westland, Koolhaas is also shining the spotlight on other rural regions in Africa, Siberia, Japan and Germany, to name a few. Visitors are introduced to various issues, including robotisation, declining wildlife populations, climate change and refugee migration. Koolhaas says, “We highlight different scenarios. For instance, we have studied the use of robots in health care among ageing rural populations in Japan. Another scenario involves buffer zones that will allow the gorilla population to grow in the heart of Africa. We show the impact of climate change on rural Siberia and also showcase a situation in which refugees move into abandoned mining villages in Germany.”
12
Countryside: Future of the World Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum New York February 2020
INTERVIEW REM KOOLHAAS
BIOGRAPHY Rem Koolhaas (born 1944 in Rotterdam) is founder and partner of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), which currently has branches in Hong Kong, New York, Beijing, Doha, Dubai and Brisbane. Koolhaas has been studying urbanisation for 40 years. In 1978, he wrote ‘Delirious New York: A Retroactive Manifesto for Manhattan’, which became an influential publication. Koolhaas is
“Westland is synonymous with the capacity to engage in innovative and disruptive entrepreneurship”
also the founder of AMO, the think tank division of OMA, and is an affiliate professor at Harvard University.
Rem Koolhaas in conversation with Rob Baan (Koppert Cress) and Eduard ter Laak (Ter Laak Orchids) during one of his visits to Westland
The Rotterdam architect has long recognised the potential of the industrious horticulture
(photos by Pieternel van der Velden).
sector situated just a stone’s throw from his home town.
“Westland never needed an architect” “Westland never needed an architect. No architect or landscaping expert was involved in designing the landscape here. Yet the greenhouses and the magenta LED lights have a huge impact on the environment,” says Koolhaas. “From the perspective of an architect, you could absolutely condemn that. But once you understand what’s happening underneath all that glass, you realise how much healthy plant-based food is produced here, how sustainably it’s done and what kind of economic contribution it makes. That’s why I definitely consider Westland a global benchmark for best practice and have given it a prominent place in the exhibition.” According to Koolhaas, the countryside plays an important role in feeding the world’s cities: “There is space here to produce food on a large scale. Although horticulture is of course practised in many other parts of the world, Westland is comparable to Silicon Valley. The cutting edge of horticulture is located in a relatively compact area. This is where all the innovation takes place. As far as I’m concerned, Westland is synonymous with the capacity to engage in innovative, disruptive entrepreneurship and to grow plant-based food. I saw this in all the different types of horticultural businesses I visited. There is an enormous drive to get better and better, to use less energy and to produce more efficiently.”
“Westland is comparable to Silicon Valley” And Koolhaas believes this motivation should not stop at the municipal boundary of Westland. He adds, “I see plenty of opportunities for local authorities to embrace one another across boundaries. Take Oostland, for example. Rather than aiming to profile themselves as a separate region, they should hitch a ride on Westland’s reputation and image.” Koolhaas is following the international expansion of Westland businesses with great interest. Developments in the field of urban farming, as in Singapore (see page 8), are of particular interest to him. He concludes, “The way I see it, farms in cities are very inefficient: cities are simply not designed for farming. We have the technology, but making it profitable and producing enough food for the many mouths in a city is a huge challenge. That is why I’ve been sceptical until now. However, I’m very curious about what the future will bring.” ‘Countryside: Future of the World’ highlights the radical transformations taking place in rural areas. The exhibition at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York will run from 20 February 2020.
13
For future-proof cultivation Heat | CO² | irrigation water Warmtebedrijf Westland intends to offer greenhouse horticulture in the region an affordable alternative to gas. Through an open heat grid, Westland horticulture can make use of both residual heat from the Rotterdam harbour, as well as heat from geo resources. From October 2021, we will offer access to heat, CO2 and irrigation water. In this way, Warmtebedrijf Westland helps local horticulture to strengthen and become future-proof. No gas, but circular heat and geothermal energy. No fluctuating costs, but fixed prices. No uncertainty, but a constant supply.
warmtewestl and.nl
14
ENERGY
Greenhouse horticulture climate neutral by 2040? Making big strides with the Climate Agreement Between now and 2030, the Netherlands will have to take steps to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. By 2040, greenhouse hortic ulture could be climate-neutral. A national climate agreement will be drawn up for this purpose: LTO Glaskracht Nederland will represent greenhouse horticulture entrepreneurs in discussions with central government. Sjaak van der Tak, chairman, explains below.
government – will jointly achieve the climate targets for 2030. When it comes
The Netherlands in 2030
to energy supply, the greenhouse horticulture sector is at the forefront and is also very efficient. We have long been aware of and actively involved in energy management and sustainable energy sources, precisely because we use so many fuels for cultivation.” But the agreement also presents challenges for horticulture. Van der Tak continues, “We need to extract more heat from geothermal energy by increasing the number of sources and building a network to connect them. We are also increasingly switching to all-electric. In addition, we are one of the few sectors to use an external CO2
From 17 to 50 geothermal heat sources
supply source, for example from refineries and industry, thereby contributing to a reduction in CO2 emissions. Every year, 300 hectares of greenhouses have to be renewed. A fine example of genuinely energy-efficient green
change in our sector and we must continue to push for it.”
49% CO2 reduction, 3.4 metric tonnes by greenhouse horticulture
75% of all electricity is sustainable
houses can be seen at Ter Laak Orchids.” (see page 18)
“There is an enormous drive for
300 hectare of newly constructed energy-efficient greenhouses per year
More electric transport
source, Climate Agreement, July 2018
“We have set out in outline how we – horticulture entrepreneurs and central
Encouragement In association with the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, LTO Glaskracht is encouraging horticulture entrepreneurs to innovate and invest with the Greenhouse as a Source of Energy programme, using the principles of Cultivation New Style. Van der Tak says, “There is an enormous drive for change in our sector and we must continue to push for it. What’s more, the knowledge and technology produced by the horticulture sector is also highly suited to utilities and residential applications.” According to Van der Tak, support from central government and local authorities is necessary if infrastructures are to be implemented for heat networks and all-electric systems. He says, “We shall also have to expand the CO2 supply to get closer to meeting climate targets. Adapting regulations and policy is the first step.” There are many other issues to tackle of course, including finance, but, as Van der Tak says, “If the government follows our principles, the greenhouse horticulture sector will be free of fossil fuels by 2040, with no CO2 emissions. We will only be using residual and geothermal heat, sustainable electricity and bioenergy.” ltoglaskracht.nl
15
adv Green Business Westland.qxp_Layout 1 26/10/2018 15:06 Page 1
De Cress op de Taart
Topping it All
www.koppertcress.com
16
ENERGY
Using fewer fossil fuels How is Westland reducing fossil fuel consumption? Three examples
Residual heat as storage
Koppert Cress uses heat differently. The surplus heat from the summer months is stored in the ground at a depth of 170 metres. “We consciously do not produce our own heat and energy but
In 2088, 70 years from now, there will be no more fossil fuels if we continue to use gas, oil and coal at the same rate we do today. The Greenport Westland is working hard to achieve the UN goal of ‘Affordable and Clean Energy’. In a semi-closed greenhouse system, growers are in full control of the climate. Nevertheless, growing vegetables and flowers requires three important in gredients: heat, electricity and CO2. For many years now, Westland has been working to reduce fossil fuel consumption by making adjustments to lighting, reusing CO2 sources, distributing residual heat and applying the principles of Next Generation Growing. The applications vary per crop. Westland also invests in geothermal and solar energy. Geothermal heat as a source of energy
make optimum use of what we already have within our own walls,” says director and owner Rob Baan. “We harvest the heat from our greenhouse by collecting heat from the sun and LED lamps. In the winter months, we use this to heat the greenhouse,” explains Baan. “This means we’re able to use much less gas, thereby saving 400,000 cubic metres of natural gas and 900,000 kilos of CO2 per year! And the air flows created during this process provide natural cooling in the summer months.”
Making business parks more sustainable
Agri-logistic business parks are also an important part of the Greenport Westland. These Westland parks are already among the most sustainable in the Netherlands. Together with the Municipality and VNO-NCW West, entrepreneurs in the region are taking action to make 20 business parks even more sustainable and to achieve the ambitions of the Dutch government (see below). Hundreds of SME entrepreneurs in
“In the past, we used to fire our heating units with oil, which was replaced by gas, followed by
Westland are prepared to switch to sustainable energy. ABC
cogeneration (of heat and power). Now we have to prepare for the future,” says Jacco Besuijen, energy
Westland agri-food business park, for example, has already
manager at Prominent growers’ association. Prominent members have 52 greenhouses, spanning a
installed 16,000 rooftop solar panels and is the largest producer
total surface area of 418 hectares, and use half a megawatt per hectare per day. Besuijen explains,
of solar energy in the Province of South-Holland. Thanks to
“The Netherlands still imports a lot of gas from Russia, but the current trade relationship is under
these solar panels, the park has saved almost seven tonnes
pressure. This means we have to prepare ourselves for when there may be no more gas available at all.”
of CO2 emissions in the past two years!
That is why Prominent has started using geothermal energy as an energy source. “In the past two years,
prominent-tomatoes.nl | koppertcress.com | gemeentewestland.nl
several of our growers have invested in geothermal energy projects,” says Besuijen. “In concrete terms, we are now extracting heat of 82 degrees from a depth of 2.2 kilometres at three locations. We are currently looking at how to make almost all of Prominent other locations more sustainable as well. The ground around many of our production sites consists of aquifers, which is favourable. We can safely pump heated water up and back down, which has led to a reduction in fossil fuel consumption.”
Heating residential areas with greenhouse energy About 10 years ago, an ambitious and innovative project became reality in Naaldwijk, a cooperative venture between Vestia Westland housing corporation and the Municipality of Westland: the exchange of energy between greenhouses and a residential area. At first sight, Hoogeland residential area looks quite ordinary, but there is more than meets the eye. It uses solar heat from the semi-closed greenhouse of Prominent growers’ association via an underground energy storage facility. In turn, the greenhouse is cooled with cold air from the residential area. 17
Moving horticulture ahead! PepperShuttle We offer you: •
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The PepperShuttle combines a harvest container and a scissor lift trolley. This enables you to use the container for the harvest and the Benomic scissor lift trolley for lifting the harvest container but also for normal crop work. This means that you need fewer scissor lift trolleys and you will always have one at your disposal, even when the harvest is being transported to the packaging area. Transport to the packaging area is done by connecting the shuttles to each other and then to a BeTrac.
Three basic articles ensure a clear and well-maintained system.
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18
www.berghortimotive.nl
ENERGY
Watch a time-lapse video of the Daylight Greenhouse solar tracking mechanism.
Saving up to 50% on energy and improved cultivation through Daylight Greenhouse Westland is home to the world’s first Daylight Greenhouse. The new five-hectare Daylight Greenhouse at Ter Laak Orchids will be fully operational by early 2019. This greenhouse will not only yield enormous energy savings but will also produce better orchids.
“Sustainable enterprise is in our DNA,” says Managing Director Edith Bentvelsen of Ter Laak Orchids. “This means that we use space, raw materials, water and energy as sus tainably as possible. About 10 years ago, we started developing the Daylight Greenhouse in partnership with Technokas and Wageningen University. After a great deal of research, we built a 4,000-square-metre ‘testing greenhouse’ on our site. This demonstrated that we could recreate the climate conditions of the tropics, the natural environment of the orchid, even better. Not only do we save energy this way, it also allows us to grow plants of even better quality.”
Harvesting heat
At first glance, the Daylight Greenhouse does not look dissimilar to any other greenhouse. “The difference is in the glass roof, 10 metres above us,” explains Bentvelsen. “The glass on the south side of the greenhouse consists of special insulating glass with Fresnel lenses. These centre the sun’s rays on the collectors: black tubes with running water. The glass focuses on a revolving tube, which rotates with the position of the sun. This heats up
Figures
the water to around 50C° and we can harvest this heat.” Ter Laak stores this heat in the ground and in the winter uses it to heat the greenhouse. Bentvelsen continues, “We are therefore able to reduce our gas consumption by a maximum of 50%. The Daylight Green house principle can be applied in horticulture but also in large buildings with an atrium or hall. We are the first to use this application. But I expect that in the next 10 years it will be used more often, not only in horticulture but also in utilities.” An additional advantage for horticulture, besides energy savings, is that the plants are exposed to diffuse sunlight.
8 million plants a year
Bentvelsen explains, “Because we divert direct sunlight to the collectors, the light distri bution is enhanced. This means we don’t need screen installations and can also use less lighting. It is better for cultivation and saves additional energy.”
Innovation
Last year, Ter Laak Orchids’s vision was rewarded with the International Grower of the Year Award, the Hillenraad Sustainability Prize and a nomination for the Koning Willem I
17.5 hectares of greenhouses
50% maximum energy savings
Award. “It’s a reward for the pioneering work we do and confirmation that we are on the right track,” says Bentvelsen. “It also encourages us to continue to innovate and invest in processes such as automation and robotisation.” Ter Laak is now building an inspiration centre at its current location, which will open in the summer of 2019. Bentvelsen continues, “We will welcome various groups at the centre – from trade customers to consumers, from suppliers to researchers and policy makers – to discover our latest innovations. This will allow us to create a platform to share our knowledge and develop new, sustainable innovations with partners. We also hope to inspire customers and consumers with special product presentations. Our aim is to galvanise all these parties to work together towards achieving a sustainable world.” orchidee.nl
19
ADVERTORIAL
“Working together on sustainable energy”
“As a family business, we believe in sustainable energy. From 2019, together with 50 of our associates in the Trias cooperative, we shall source 40% of our heat from geothermal energy.”
Forever Plants
Erik Persoon
“ABC Westland wants to be a good steward for the Earth, which also means our beautiful Westland. We generate 35% of our own energy via 18,000 solar panels. Thanks to the SDE+ grant and green financing, this has not come at the expense of our earnings. As an entrepreneur, you simply have to do this!”
ABC Westland
Herwi Rijsdijk
The Municipality of Westland is working with residents and business owners to help achieve climate targets. If we are to succeed, everyone, from citizen to entrepreneur, must switch to sustainable energy. And we all have to work together, because you can’t make this transition by acting alone. Only then shall we be able to reduce CO2 emissions and use less fossil fuel. The result will be a more sustainable world for all of us! The clock is ticking...
In addition to working towards the UN climate targets for 2030, central government has also set the goal of abandoning natural gas altogether by 2050. So now is the time for housing corporations, greenhouse horticulture entrepreneurs, companies
The Municipality of Westland helps bring sustainable ideas to life
and business parks to act. For Westland, the priorities are to increase geothermal connections and expand solar energy sites. We are currently working on this together
A number of noteworthy initiatives have already been completed in Westland,
with the greenhouse horticulture sector. The Westland Energy Agreement, which
such as the Vogelaer geothermal project in Poeldijk and the geothermal drilling
will be presented in early 2019, provides more clarity and insight into the many
venture in Naaldwijk. The Municipality of Westland is also cooperating with the
opportunities for businesses.
Province of Province of South-Holland by modifying safety and other procedures to speed up drilling for geothermal energy. We are as well supporting efforts to establish
Geothermal energy
a branch off of the residual heat network to service Westland. The network will run
The Municipality of Westland is a frontrunner in promoting geothermal energy as an alternative energy source. This is partly due to innovations within the greenhouse horticulture sector, which has become increasingly sustainable over the years. We are supporting the future expansion of geothermal sources that will eventually form
to increase sustainability. We also want companies to benefit from the opportunities
residential areas will be able to connect to this network.
presented by the energy transition. As Westland has a Greenport area of 4,500 importance. Horticulturists and business parks are initiating various projects to increase sustainability. They are supported by the municipality and programmes
Wateringen
1
Kwintsheul
like ‘Kas als Energiebron’ (the Greenhouse as a Source of Energy). There are already
4
3
Monster
5
almost 30,000 solar panels on business parks in Westland and there’s space for even
1
Ter Heijde
Honselersdijk
more! As a municipality, we facilitate discussion and aim to resolve any difficulties
Poeldijk
2
De Lier
‘s-Gravenzande
2 Naaldwijk
Kwintsheul
and the water authority. 4
Business service point
Honselersdijk
5
We are proud of the entrepreneurship and mentality of the region’s highly successful business community. The Municipality of Westland aims to support companies (and
3
1
citizens) in putting sustainable ideas into practice. This can be done through the
asdijk
5
Legenda
n n n
companies may experience with parties such as government ministries, the province
Wateringen
1
3
4
The Municipality of Westland aims to actively support businesses in taking steps
hectares, making the greenhouse horticulture sector more sustainable is of vital
Poeldijk
2 wijk
Opportunities for sustainability
a coherent heat network infrastructure. Horticulturists as well as business parks and
1
3
from the port of Rotterdam to Leiden.
2
De Lier
4
applications, both within our own municipal boundaries (the SDE incentive scheme
Geothermal heat Solar Energy Warm cold storage
for sustainable energy production) and further afield when dealing with the province or central government. We also link entrepreneurs to the right market parties,
Maasdijk
5
Legenda
n n n
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business service point, whereby we help businesses with the right permits and subsidy
Geothermal heat Solar Energy Warm cold storage
for example when companies want to implement geothermal energy projects.
gemeentewestland.nl
Q&A
Ask us anything
Experts from the sector provide answers to complex questions.
Ben Driessen Koppert Biologicals
What is the difference between sustainable and organic cultivation?
Aart van den Bos Verbos
What contribution can horticulture make in developing countries over the next 10 years?
Sustainable and organic are two concepts that are often used interchangeably. But sustainable and organic cultivation differ substantially from each other.
We know that Dutch horticulture is regarded highly throughout the world.
“There are many similarities, but each concept emphasises different aspects,”
But what contribution can horticulture make in developing countries, where
explains Ben Driessen, team leader for vegetable cultivation at Koppert Bio
the demand for healthy food is growing? Aart van den Bos has been setting
logicals’ consultancy department.
up horticulture companies across the globe for decades. He now focuses on developing countries.
“Sustainable cultivation is fundamentally different from organic cultivation in a number of respects. Sustainable cultivation is primarily aimed at minimising
“I have been setting up production facilities on various continents for a
the carbon footprint and environmental impact. This is a consideration in
number of decades, with varying levels of success. So, I know how difficult it is.
many business aspects and processes. Examples include reducing water
But I also know what great opportunities there are for the horticulture industry.
consumption, minimising the use of fossil energy and recycling waste. Entre-
I’ve been able to support many entrepreneurs in establishing companies
preneurs who cultivate crops sustainably will also use bio-control agents
within the agriculture sector at home, more recently outside the Netherlands
whenever possible. Should chemical intervention still prove necessary, this
as well. But, in today’s world, sustainable production is of vital importance.
is done with ‘soft’ agents, which have minimal impact on pollinators, pests’
Especially in line with the Sustainability Development Goals (see page 4),
natural enemies and the environment. To enable bio-control agents to do
we, as a sector, can play a major role if we manage to adapt ‘horticultural
their work optimally, organic plant material is used where possible. It is not,
technology’ to local circumstances. But this will require more than just
however, a prerequisite. It is important to note that for sustainable cultivation
technology. Knowledge, skills, innovation and above all entrepreneurship
no restrictions are imposed on the propagation medium; all substrates are
and sound financial management are crucial to the success of horticulture,
allowed.”
no matter where in the world.”
“Organic cultivation also takes the above points into account. In addition,
“If we succeed in offering a good proposition, an all-in package for instance,
organic horticulturists must comply with strict rules in certain areas. These
with scope for funding and impact investment, then we – the Dutch horti-
rules have been established by the European Union and are enforced by
culture sector – can do good business. In doing so, we can not only supply
SKAL, the organisation that supervises organic production in our country.
enough food for everyone on the planet but can also supply food that is
For instance, where organic farms are concerned, the produce must be
healthy and fresh. I hope in 10 years’ time that we as a sector, in partnership
grown in the soil and only organic fertilisers may be used. And perhaps most
with many entrepreneurs, will be helping to produce healthy food sustainably
importantly, an organic horticulturist must work with organic propagation
across the full spectrum of climate zones worldwide. And, hopefully, we will
material and may not use chemical control agents. Certain products of natural
have gained even more recognition as a horticultural nation because of our
origin are permitted. In short: organic cultivation certainly has similarities with
integrated approach.”
sustainable cultivation, but the details are clearly different.”
Bram Tijmons PATS Indoor Drone Solutions
How can micro-drones contribute to healthier horticulture? Greenhouse horticulture is actively seeking better alternatives for crop protection. In addition to biochemical and biological pest control using natural enemies, harmful insects can also be controlled mechanically. Bram Tijmons of the start-up PATS Indoor Drone Solutions tells us more about the use of drones in horticulture below. “The demand for alternative pest control offers plenty of opportunities in the field of robotisation and automation. Micro-drones can autonomously perform smart tasks that give horticulturists valuable insights into and more leverage over their business processes. At PATS, we help them by developing micro-drones (4x4 cm) that perform active and preventive insect control operations. This also reduces the need for scouting and releasing pest-control agents. It’s a labour-saving solution that also offers the possibility of ‘cleaner’ cultivation without having to use corrective pest-control agents. This enables us to respond to the increasing market demand for organically grown products. It also means the horticulturist can charge a higher price for the product and, at the same time, reduce the costs of business operations.”
21
ADVERTORIAL
ADVERTORIAL
Hagelunie together
Challenges that transcend a single company, industry or country The magnitude of the challenges we face become clear when we study the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. The goals convey the scale of the difficulties we need to overcome. It is therefore quite clear that we, whether as a company, an industry or a country,
A division of Achmea, Hagelunie has more than 80 years’ experience as an insurer in greenhouse horticulture. We insure 85% of the horticulture market in the Netherlands and also operate elsewhere in Europe as well as in Canada and Australia. It is precisely by sharing knowledge with the greenhouse construction- installation sector and our involvement in research and innovation that we can improve quality and help entrepreneurs safeguard their continuity.
Quality of greenhouse and production systems
The global demand for Dutch expertise on the construction of
cannot tackle these issues on our own. Solutions are only possible if we address these
greenhouses and installation technology is on the rise. Building
challenges – and share the associated opportunities – by working together with our suppliers
a sustainable, high-tech greenhouse and outfitting it with the
and customers as well as with other stakeholders in our industry and beyond.
necessary equipment is a vital first step towards growing high-quality fresh produce.
Alumat Zeeman aims to be a ‘Westland link’ in our supply chain, sharing the opportunities and challenges with others. Given our expertise, we have decided to focus on five of the SDGs:
population growth and urbanisation, food supply, water, energy and climate change. Our expertise in the field of covered crops is relevant to each of these areas.
Pooling of knowledge
Hagelunie and HortiQ have pooled their knowledge and offer a combination of quality and certainty before, during and after the construction of a sustainable horticultural business.
Alumat Zeeman has witnessed many changes over the past 90 years. Each time, the company has managed to adapt to changing circumstances. The changes, however, are becoming bigger and are happening faster. Consider developments in the field of robotisation,
Consultation
It is reassuring to be able to consult professional parties who have
digitisation, big data and artificial intelligence, for example. But also the changing energy
specific knowledge of high-quality, sustainable greenhouses before
landscape and the many new materials that can be recycled. We have set ourselves the
building begins.
goal of continuing to do what our company has already been doing for 90 years: constantly learning, adapting and growing. For us, the critical success factors are: WILLINGNESS
AND ABILITY TO COOPERATE
Cost-efficient
Agreements are made right at the start of construction and in corporated into the specifications so that no costly adjustments are
Great things have been achieved through cooperation. A good example is the energy consumption in greenhouses. At the end of the 1990s, horticulture was seen as a ‘huge energy guzzling sector’ (10% of Groningen’s natural gas). This had to change. In just 20 years, that negative image was transformed into a much brighter perspective: Greenhouse as a
Source of Energy. Reduction of energy consumption by the sector of over 70% has already
been realised. This was only made possible through high-level cooperation between government, industry, educational establishments and research institutes.
necessary during or after completion of the project.
High quality
Pooling of knowledge results in a stronger greenhouse that ensures optimal business continuity.
In case of loss
The Hagelunie-HortiQ partnership guarantees that everything will Today’s challenges (for example, the Paris Climate Agreement) are bigger and more global.
be rectified as quickly as possible and that you are up and running
How can we best tackle them? Again, through cooperation. We invite you to take on these
again with minimal delay. An expert from Hagelunie and the HortiQ-
challenges and grasp these opportunities with us, Alumat Zeeman.
certified company will make an inventory of the loss within 48 hours of
alumatzeeman.com
receiving the claim notice. All efforts are aimed at ensuring production continuity or getting back in production as soon as possible: limiting the loss and saving the crop are our key considerations. To find out more about Hagelunie and HortiQ, visit hagelunie.nl
“I have certainty before, during and after construction!” That’s how Gert van Straalen, former director of Thaneth Earth, characterises his relationship with Hagelunie-HortiQ. 22
WORLD HORTI CENTER
International delegations find their way to World Horti Center Since opening in March 2018, the World Horti Center has welcomed visitors from all over the world. “From Albania to Australia, from Belgium to Bangladesh. In absolute numbers of visits, China and South Korea are currently in the lead,” says Erwin Cardol.
Curious about the World Horti Center?
The World Horti Center, which was opened on March 7th, 2018 by Her Majesty
delegation. It was a more extensive visit this time, aimed at forging tangible
Queen Máxima, is the knowledge and innovation centre for the greenhouse
connections with companies and organisations that could help his country in its
horticulture sector and a platform where entrepreneurs, educational establishments,
path towards the modernisation and expansion of food production.” Uzbekistan
research institutes and government come together. Erwin Cardol is director of Demo
has earmarked a budget of a billion dollars to reform agriculture and horticulture.
Nursery Westland, one of the centre’s four cooperating parties. He explains why
These funds have come from the Uzbek government, the European Union and the
all those visitors travel to Naaldwijk: “Our country is a frontrunner in international
World Bank. Cardol continues, “Our participants – companies that take part in
horticulture. The World Horti Center showcases the entire sector and therefore
the World Horti Center through the year-round trade exhibition – are keen to liaise
attracts a lot of interest from a wide range of stakeholders. It’s – for now – the
with delegations from Central Asian ‘stan’ countries. It’s an opportunity for them
only place in the world where government, business, research and education come
to gain access to relevant contacts and to secure appropriate leads.”
together.” With ‘for now’, Cardol refers to the huge interest from abroad in building similar horticultural centres.
The 40,000-plus visitors to the World Horti Center this year will be especially surpri sed by the level of cooperation between all parties in the building. “For us, this has
The World Horti Center includes research greenhouses, two storeys dedicated to
become almost self-evident, but visitors find this type of cooperation in the chain
year-round trade exhibitions for the entire horticulture sector and numerous facilities
truly special,” says Cardol. “They draw a lot of inspiration from it and come away
for conferences and events. It also houses the MBO Westland institute of secondary
with many valuable contacts, often even a letter of intent. And they take photos,
vocational education with 1,300 students. “Many international visitors come to the
lots of photos,” he laughs.
centre when on a multi-day visit to the Netherlands, during which they explore the various aspects of our agri-food sector. Groups from Asia often include represen
Cardol and his team are still hoping for a visit from China’s President Xi Jinping:
tatives of government and education, whereas visitors from western countries are
“He can be considered a reformer within his country. China is developing rapidly,
usually business delegations,” says Cardol.
and Dutch agriculture and horticulture technology could be invaluable for feeding hundreds of millions of Chinese. The Chinese government is always a stakeholder in
His favourite groups are those with a strategic mission, “Like the delegation from
any deal, so a visit by President Xi Jinping to the World Horti Center could have a
Uzbekistan last summer,” he says. “First, we received a small group, led by the Uzbek
huge impact on trade with China.” worldhorticenter.nl
Minister of Foreign Trade. Two months later, the minister returned with a large * The ‘stan’ countries are Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
International visitors from no fewer than 51 countries have visited the World Horti Center.
Albania / Armenia / Austria / Australia / Bangladesh / Belgium / Bosnia / Brazil / Cambodia / Canada / Chile / China / Colombia / Denmark / Egypt / Equador / Ethiopia / France / Georgia / Germany / Honduras / India / Indonesia / Iran / Israel / Japan / Jordan / Kenya / Lebanon / Malawi / Mexico / Nepal / Nicaragua / Nigeria / Poland / Qatar / Russia / Singapore / South Africa / South Korea / Sri Lanka / Tanzania / Thailand / Tunisia / Ukraine / Uzbekistan / Uganda / United Kingdom /
Delegation from Uzbekistan, led by Uzbek Deputy Minister of Agriculture and
United States / Vietnam / Zimbabwe /
photo by Michel Kort)
Horticulture Saidkamol Khodjaev, visiting the World Horti Center (August 2018,
23
YOUNG TALENT
Graduation followed by a job among the orchids! A true Westlander with great ambitions in the horticulture sector, Dean van der Klaauw (22) has just finished his business and management programme at MBO Westland. After a graduation internship with Ter Laak Orchids, he has been rewarded with a fantastic position at the company and says, “My timing couldn’t have been better.”
He continues, “When my school went on a company visit
As part of his internship, Van der Klaauw had to introduce
to Ter Laak, I soon realised how versatile the organisation is.
an innovative product. “It so happened that Ter Laak was at
Not long after my visit, I had a conversation with a Ter Laak
the time preparing for an upcoming surplus of white orchids.
employee at an event and that made my decision to apply
Together, we brainstormed about possible solutions and
for a graduation internship an easy one. I was hired, ended
improvements to reduce the surplus. We succeeded by
up in an enthusiastic young team and immediately felt at
changing the way we offer our products. Sometimes it’s
home.”
the small details that make the difference in this market!”
Learning and innovating
According to Van der Klaauw, his timing couldn’t have
“As a graduation intern, I was given the chance to explore
been better. He says, “Ter Laak is growing fast and had
different facets of the organisation over a 20-week period,
enough room to hire new people. During my internship
after which my practice supervisor tested my knowledge of
application, they asked me if I would be interested in a job
each facet. From production and quality management to
after my internship. Naturally, I said yes! Immediately after
sales and marketing, I picked up a bit of knowledge about
my graduation, I started my career as a junior sales represen
everything. That’s the beauty of such an of internship; it
tative with a full-time contract in the bag. And just as with
allows you to find out which role suits you best. I discovered
my graduation internship, I was not thrown into the deep
– as I had expected – that contact with customers in the sales
end but given space to get to know the company better
department suited me very well. But I also enjoyed activities
and discover my natural talents. My dream is to set up my
I would not have thought were totally right for me, such as
own business one day, but until then I couldn’t think of a
in product development, for example, where we think about
better place to gain bucket loads of experience in
products Ter Laak might offer in the future. The organisation
horticulture!”
is constantly innovating and is open to new ideas, including mine,” says Van der Klaauw.
MISSION TO MARS What horticulture and space exploration can learn from each other
24
“At Ter Laak, I have been given ample space to discover my talents” This article was produced by Let’s Work, the World Horti Center’s platform that enables young people to get a well-rounded view of the horticulture sector. worldhorticenter.nl/en
YOUNG TALENT
HortiHeroes brings together clever minds and fresh perspectives from within horticulture and beyond! The Netherlands is the world’s second
preneurs and start-ups, both within and
largest exporter of flowers, plants,
outside the food and flower industry.
vegetables and fruit after the United
“We believe that genuine, radical inno
States. Thanks to centuries of experience,
vation is not an outcome of daily opera
entrepreneurship and ingenuity, we can
tions. Cross-fertilisation and new ideas
produce a lot in a very small area. The
arise when you work together with
“Companies that deploy their employees in
future offers enormous opportunities as
other sectors,” explains Ruigrok. “This is
well as challenges, not least because the
how new business models emerge, and
the HortiHeroes’ Intrapreneurship Programme
sector and its business models are under
at HortiHeroes we accelerate these with
pressure.
a start-up mindset. We are, as a platform, a catalyst for this radical innovation.
“We need knowledge and expertise
By doing it together, and especially by
more than ever! The world is urbanising
doing it differently, we get it done.”
and digitising at an unparalleled pace.
will be one step ahead of the competition.”
HortiHeroes in practice Artie Dewnarain is a HortiHero! Talent class of 2018, HortiCity Winner, Calculator at KUBO
Mega-cities are emerging with many
What is HortiHeroes’ aim? “Our ideal
mouths to feed. This is why, in early 2018,
scenario is a world without hunger, where
we launched HortiHeroes as a start-up
healthy food and a green environment
and talent development platform for the
contribute to health and happiness,”
Artie Dewnarain, who participated in the HortiHeroes Intrapreneurship
Dutch food and flower industry,” says
says Ruigrok. “This will allow us all to
Programme, works for KUBO, one of the largest greenhouse builders
Marketing and Communication Coordi
grow: our talents as individuals, our role
in the Netherlands. The case: KUBO is on the rise and the company is
nator Chantal Ruigrok. She adds, “We
as companies in the food and flower
getting many requests from all over the world from both new and existing
believe that the sector has the knowledge
sector and, above all, a world that is
customers. In an ever-changing society, the company has to deal with
and experience to provide the whole
healthy, green and hunger-free. Because
an increasingly diverse range of clients, which means that KUBO has to
world with high-quality food that is locally
that’s good for everyone around us. It
continually adapt. A big challenge! After completing the Intrapreneurship
produced and sustainable, while making
also means that in a few centuries’ time,
Programme, Dewnarain began an innovation track at KUBO. Assisted by
the Netherlands economically stronger
the Netherlands will still be famous.”
her coaches at HortiHeroes, she has set to work on tackling this challenge and is putting the knowledge gained into practice.
and more future-proof.” According to Ruigrok, the sector needs horticulture
HortiHeroes has made significant pro
heroes to achieve this: “Clever minds and
gress in the past year. Ruigrok concludes,
fresh perspectives that want to develop
“Some 13 partner companies have now
and use their talents to get even more
joined, 16 innovation projects are under
out of our sector. We are also looking for
way, four well-attended arena events are
entrepreneurs who are working on tomor
taking place and the second HortiHeroes
row’s innovations.”
Academy Intrapreneurship Programme
Radical innovation
will start in the spring of 2019. New companies can now join the platform,
HortiHeroes organises inspiring activities,
both from within and from beyond
events and programmes for young pro
the sector.”
fessionals, students, established entre
hortiheroes.com
Horticulture programmes on the rise at Inholland Delft University of Applied Sciences Inholland started its new academic year with 15% more students enrolled for full-time horticulture training programmes, which, for Westland Marketing, is an exciting development because there is a huge demand for post-graduate employees in the sector. Moreover, in response to this, last year Inholland began offering flexible, part-time higher professional training for employees already working in horticulture. Of course, there is also the regular, full-time higher professional training programme as well as the two-year Associate Degree in Horticulture Management course, available for students moving on from secondary vocational education. Last but not least, Inholland has partnered with two Chinese universities for the Double Degree programme. inholland.nl
25
LOGISTICS
In collaboration with Rotterdam Food Cluster
Efficient logistics vital for a strong agri-food region
Interaction between the port of Rotterdam, Westland and the European hinterland benefits from efficient, smart transport. We can strengthen our regional position through strategic cooperation. This is true not only for transport but also for logistics and product data, for example. With the Smart Logistics project, Rotterdam Food Cluster is working on more efficient agri-logistics. Case study: How can we improve food chain transparency? When it comes to buying food, consumer confidence and behaviour have changed considerably in recent years. Think of the various food-quality scandals, the environmental impact of food production and working conditions in this sector. New values for
If companies in the food cluster share their logistics data, transport can be organised more efficiently, resulting in enormous cost savings. The added benefits are reduced CO2 emissions and less traffic pressure.
purchasing decisions now stand alongside traditional values such as price, taste and convenience. Commissioned by the Rotterdam Food Cluster, Lisa Lütticke, a master’s student of supply chain management at Erasmus University, has completed a graduation thesis on the consumer’s need for product information and data sharing across the entire food chain. “Increasingly, consumers want to know everything about the processes and parties involved in creating a product. Food outlets must therefore ensure that the entire supply chain, from transporting the harvest to storage and distribution, is transparent. The key to sharing this information transparently lies in traceability systems. But that presents quite a few challenges in the chain,” says Lütticke. In collaboration with Rotterdam Food Cluster, Lütticke studied the barriers to transparency in the region. “We discovered that there are four barriers, the first of which is the multitude
Cost savings of 5% through even more efficient logistics
of layers in the chain. There are an incredible number of steps between grower and super-
A pilot involving four agri-logistics companies, including ABC Logistics
market,” explains Lütticke. The second barrier concerns lack of standardisation. She says,
in Poeldijk, has already shown that costs savings of 5% can be achieved.
“There are many different systems and the methods of registering data, including which
The project identified all the transport movements made in one week and
information is actually registered, differ enormously between growers and retailers. Thirdly,
discovered some huge inefficiencies: from A to B with trans-shipment at
the sector actually benefits from keeping the consumer ignorant and information is distorted
C and D, for example. “By exchanging information, simulating data on
for marketing purposes, such as the date of harvest versus the date of sale.” Finally, there
a map and transport sharing, the number of transport movements
is a lack of input sources for the various systems. “Consequently, there is little to no
decreases,” says Freek Brilleman, who is supervising the pilot on behalf
responsibility at the different links in the supply chain. There’s no department responsible
of BeSCOPE.
for tracing and there’s also a lack of employees, time and resources,” says Lütticke. A pilot involving just four companies over a one-week period has already Based on her findings, Lütticke recommends sharing product data across the entire
demonstrated the potential gains, but Brilleman believes this could
food chain via a blockchain-based platform. She argues, “The sector needs a solution to
ultimately be as much as 10% or 15%. “Economies of scale, which
standardise the information exchange between all links in the supply chain: from grower
essentially means more companies participating in the project, will lead
to trader and from importer to retailer. Everyone must have access to the platform and be
to even better results. Investments will of course have to be made in a
able to view information. Legislation will have to be the guiding principle in standardising
digital platform where all data can be processed anonymously. But it
this. We can draw on the existing principles of the GS1 identification system and
definitely yields a revenue model, as well as lower CO2 emissions.”
the current projects of the Fresh Produce Centre (GroentenFruit Huis). In conclusion, the sector must assume responsibility for informing consumers adequately by making
The preferable next step is to implement a platform via which partici
the cultivation process more visible and transparent. All in harmony within the chain,
pating companies’ logistics data can be processed to generate the most
of course.”
optimal transport route. Rotterdam Food Cluster is currently in talks with companies to identify their interests and conditions.
Would you like to participate in the Smart Logistics project? Contact Adriaan van der Giessen at a.vandergiessen@rotterdam.nl. If you’d like to consult the management summary of this study, visit rotterdamfoodcluster.com 26
Figures
LOGISTICS
Together, Westland and Rotterdam form a strong agri-food region. On behalf of Rotterdam Food Cluster, BCI has explored the actual size of this sector and the links in the chain.
23,000 jobs in the Westland and Delfland region in agri-food and horticulture and propagation materials
75,000 jobs in the entire Rotterdam-The Hague Metropolitan Region
50% of all jobs in floriculture in the Rotterdam-The Hague Metropolitan Region are in Westland
South Holland has the largest production yield out of 246 regions in Europe, achieved with a relatively small surface area
A yield of €3.4 billion on an area of 123,360 hectares means a yield of €28,033 per hectare
€16.3 billion Total export value of fresh produce in the Netherlands
61% of total fresh produce exports are to neighbouring countries (Germany, Belgium, France and the United Kingdom).
85% of total fresh produce exports are to European countries
Westland horti tours
Professional guided tours of Dutch horticulture
€5.7 billion Total value of Royal Flora Holland exports in the Netherlands.
Westland HortiTours organises Brexit opens up opportunities for horticulture and agri-logistics The United Kingdom will leave the EU on March 29th, 2019. As a result of this departure, various trade agreements will be negotiated. The new conditions for trade in food and floriculture will depend on what kind of Brexit deal is struck. Last year, the Netherlands exported vegetables, fruit, flowers and plants to the tune of €1.85 billion*. Consider that the United Kingdom is only 60% self-sufficient in food.
interesting tours of greenhouse horticulture with experienced and enthusiastic guides for business people and entrepreneurs.
Brexit will therefore inevitably have consequences for exports from the Dutch agrifood sector, notably delays due to border controls and formalities. Freshness quality will also come under pressure due to longer transit times. But above all, there will be many new opportunities! For example, as the UK establishes more sites for cultivation and greenhouses, the Dutch horticulture sector is expected to experience greater demand for its knowhow and technology. There will also be opportunities in the area of employment. Sharon Janmaat, project manager at the Rotterdam Food Cluster, says, “Companies can focus on labour migration, for instance by bringing activities currently taking place in the UK to the Netherlands. If our region prepares well for Brexit, it could put us
T: +31(0) 619 933 934 E: info@westlandhortitours.nl
at an advantage over other regions like Antwerp.” If you would like to be well-prepared for Brexit too, visit brexitloket.nl
www.westlandhortitours.nl
*Source: Rabobank, article on the impact of Brexit on Dutch entrepreneurs. Figures for reference year 2017, HMRC/Rabobank
27
LOGISTICS
ADVERTORIAL
Our floriculture department supplies cardboard trays and paper sleeves to protect vulnerable flowers and plants during transport. Companies in the agricultural sector can contact our fresh produce department to obtain environmentally friendly packaging. For instance, fruit and vegetables can be packed in trays or foil made from recycled or biodegradable plastic. As versatile as the sector itself, our industry department team specialises in producing paper bags, biodegradable plastic bags and boxes made from recycled cardboard. In addition to scaffolding nets and shrink wrap, our construction department supplies construction films made from recycled raw materials to building sites and scaffolders.
Sustainable agripackaging solutions
Besides our import of packaging materials, we also make our own packaging products. Argos possesses modern machinery, such as the edge protector machine, which we have developed ourselves. This machine produces solid edge protectors in any size and thickness.
With a 10,000-square-metre warehouse,
A product that has been carefully produced must be well protected and
our logistics department ensures
well packed during transport if it is to meet sales quality standards. Our
fast processing and quick delivery
enthusiastic team is ready to solve any packaging problem for all kinds of customers across many different professions. We develop, innovate, and have the total packaging solution for optimal protection of products while maintaining a focus on sustainability.
throughout the country and abroad. We package and wrap everything but our message. We are proud of our company and our products. Welcome to Argos! argos.nu
DOOR cooperative opens new packaging centre in Westland In 2020, the DOOR cooperative will build a new packaging and distribution centre for processing fresh products. This is in response to increased production, a larger acreage and a wider range of products. The building will have a prime location right in the heart of the Dutch horticulture sector in Westland. The centre will also be located close to many of the affiliated horticulture companies and directly adjacent to the A20 motorway, an important logistical link to customers in the Netherlands and abroad. Sustainable growth for DOOR cooperative
Working together on strong brands
DOOR’s brands are expected to grow sustainably
growers of fruiting vegetable, focuses on sales,
in the coming years. It is anticipated that Promi
marketing and innovation. As a ‘house of leading
nent, Purple Pride, Green Diamonds, Paprico and
brands’, the brands take centre stage with
SweetPoint will occupy 20% of the total acreage
DOOR playing a supporting role. “The key
for fruiting vegetables in the Netherlands. These
aspect is that our organisation is supported by
companies can leverage economies of scale that
progressive and enterprising horticulturists who
allow them to continue to produce at competitive
are willing to invest in innovation and marketing.
cost levels. A larger supply and a wider range of
Working cooperatively and sharing knowledge
tomatoes, peppers, aubergines and cucumbers
is in their DNA. While each brand has its own
gives the cooperative a market edge. In addition,
unique identity, they have maximum impact
the growth of assimilation lighting in horticulture
when brought together under a single umbrella.
as well as increasing forms of cooperation inter
That’s the strength of our organisation,”
nationally mean that DOOR can assure its
says Jan Opschoor, director of DOOR.
customers of year-round supplies of high-quality
coorperatiedoor.nl
fruiting vegetables. Last but not least, growth 28
helps make cultivation more sustainable.
DOOR, a professional cooperative of and for
LOGISTICS
The importance of temperature when transporting flowers by sea
A sea of flowers Every day, flowers are transported across oceans and delivered to consumers by Intergreen. In collaboration with partner nurseries, Intergreen has created a unique and optimal transport chain. A journey that has 10 times less CO2 emissions! People all around the world enjoy fresh flowers. It is essential to pay attention to
Trade in exotic fruits and vegetables
quality and freshness during transport. The focus is on speed. Traditionally, flowers have been transported all over the world by air to get them to the consumer as soon as possible.
Sustainable alternative Intergreen places great value on innovation and sustainability. That is why over 10 years ago, the company first began transporting its flowers by sea as an
Well-known traders in exotic fruits and vegetables, such as Nature’s
alternative: CO2 emissions are 10 times less than by air. We have carried out
Pride, Westfalia Fruit Africa, Euro West, BUD Holland and Yex, have
a lots of tests on various flowers and possess an immense amount of knowledge
all chosen to set up business in Westland, not least because of the
in this area.
excellent logistics network. The distribution process within the fresh produce market is extremely important. Packing, cooling and ripening,
Importance of temperature
as well as transport of course, are part of the cycle in the trade of fruits
Temperature is the most important factor in keeping flowers fresh during a 14- to
and vegetables. Everything must be handled in the shortest time
25-day journey by sea. Even then the flowers have to stand in the customer’s vase
possible if consumers are to receive these products in a fresh condition.
for a guaranteed number of days. Every step in the chain has to be followed meticulously. After harvesting, the temperature of the flowers must be reduced as
At the site of Euro West and Westfalia Fruit Africa in Poeldijk, a total of
soon as possible. A stable, low temperature is essential during the entire journey.
168 pallets with exotic fruits can all ripen at the same time. A bit further
For this, Intergreen uses an accurate monitoring system that continuously measures
down in Honderdland, the African trader has its marketing and sales of-
the temperature. This guarantees that the flowers arrive under the right conditions
fice. Zac Bard, the manager of Westfalia Fruit Africa has this to say about
and comply with the consumer’s expectations.
the location in Westland: “Being close to the port of Rotterdam means that we can increase our volume. The port has a world-class infrastructure
With a turnover of approximately 180 million euros and 350 employees, Intergreen
and is centrally located. We can therefore transport our avocados and
is one of the largest subsidiaries within the Dutch Flower Group. Intergreen
mangos quickly, properly and cost-efficiently inside Europe; after they
specialises in the delivery of ready-made bouquets, potted plants and garden
have ripened in Westland of course. The region has lots of knowledge
plants to supermarket chains. intergreen.nl
about fresh produce and the local population is well trained and has a fantastic work mentality.” Shawn Harris, the founder of Nature’s Pride, says of Westland: “It is not only the location and its proximity to the sea port and to airports but also the immense concentration of fresh produce and logistical services. For us, this means that we are able to deliver our exotic produce fresh, efficiently and swiftly to consumers in Germany, Belgium, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe.”
Establishing your business in the Westland region? Join an agri-logistics cluster at a global level. There are various reasons why the Westland region is the most attractive business location for agri-related companies.
westlandhortibusiness.com 29
LOGISTICS
“500 million consumers throughout Europe are stocked within 24 hours!” The Westland region is not just a world leader due to its greenhouse cultivation. Its agri-logistics hub affords it a unique position. From producer to consumer in just 24 hours, the Westland region can supply 500 million people throughout Europe. Businesses in Westland make full use of the nearby infrastructure, which links the region to the entire continent. The location of Westland in relation to logistics hotspots is vitally important. The port of Rotterdam, two airports and a direct connection to the roads network contribute to the enormous success of Westland’s greenhouse sector.
ABC Westland Agri & Food
Honderdland Business Park
Royal Flora Holland
Where the entire fruit & vegetables chain converges
Room to grow in agri-logistics literally and figuratively
The biggest flower auction in the world
Sorting, packing, ripening, cooling and transportation.
In recent years, reputable companies in agri-logistics,
Royal Flora Holland is the biggest service provider and mar-
ABC Westland is the hub within the chain and is surroun-
such as Greenpack, Nature’s Pride, Cool Control, LBP
ket place in the ornamentals sector. Flowers and plants from
ded by service-providing companies, producer organisa-
and Quality Queen, have chosen Honderdland Business
its establishment in Naaldwijk are traded all over the world.
tions and Food Center Westland, a wholesale centre for
Park for a base. This industrial zone, located alongside
By being located in a key industrial zone, companies are
the retail trade and catering sector. From production and
the A20 motorway, is constantly developing and is on its
operating from the heart of international trade and distribu-
export to consumers, everything is located here on just 55
way to becoming the largest industrial zone in Western
tion and can benefit from a range of facilities and services.
hectares. abcwestland.nl
Europe. honderdland.nl
It means businesses can fully focus on their activities! royalfloraholland.com
Advantages
Advantages
More than 100 companies from the potato,
Mix of large (international) firms and small
Advantages
Direct link to the distribution chain
vegetable and fruit sector
specialist companies across a range of sectors
Facilities throughout the chain
Business park is operating above regional level
Short delivery times and lower transport costs
Short lines and efficient cooperation
90% of companies connected to horticulture
Infrastructure geared to transport
Close to developments in the market
Strategic location alongside the motorway
Business premises can be purchased or rented
Connected directly to the consumer market
Close to the ferry to the UK and the port of Rotterdam
Connecting to a stable marketplace network
Reduction of CO2 footprint via sustainability measures
Infrastructure continuously developing,
Business services are outsourced (IT, catering,
24/7 supervision of hygiene and safety
such as the Maasdelta Tunnel and veilingroute
security, etc.)
Co-profiting from knowledge and innovation
18,000 solar panels
In 2022-2024
10 billion cut flowers, 900 million indoor plants, 300 million garden plants
creates a sustainable zone and the biggest producer of solar energy in the province of South-Holland!
30
the final phase of the Honderdland Business Park will be ready and the Maasdelta Tunnel will open
were sold on the flower auction in Naaldwijk in 2017
LOGISTICS
Partner contribution
Rotterdam Partners helps Westland with international expansion Rotterdam Partners aims to strengthen the region’s economy by encouraging people
gations that visit our region and by organising regular events to promote trade both
to come and live in the city and surrounding area and by attracting business visitors,
with and within certain nations. This is done in cooperation with the Dutch embassies
tourists and international companies. Most business visitors tend to take part in
and agricultural attachés in those countries. We also set up or participate in trade
multi-day, international conferences and we promote Rotterdam as a prime conference
missions; for example, there is the upcoming mission to Colombia in which various
destination. Conferences related to the agri-logistics sector tend to attract participants
companies from our region will be taking part.
who are especially keen to visit high-tech companies in Westland. Covering Rotter dam and the Hook of Holland, Rotterdam Tourist Information provides tourists with
The Rotterdam region is to be positioned as the ‘Agri-Food Delta of Europe’. Westland
details about the sights and activities that Westland has to offer. A close partnership
plays a crucial role in our global proposition because no other region in the world
was recently initiated with the Municipality of Westland, Westland Marketing and Visit
has so much unique knowledge and technology in the field of food and agriculture.
Westland to develop various opportunities.
We work closely with InnovationQuarter and the Rotterdam Food Cluster of the Municipality of Rotterdam.
As for business, we aim not only to attract and retain international companies but also to assist firms already established in the region, especially with trade promotion and
If you would like to know what Rotterdam Partners can do for you, please visit
international expansion. Rotterdam Partners does this by receiving international dele
Rotterdampartners.com
Westland’s accessibility continues to improve Westland is a vital hub in the agri-logistics sector. The region has the capacity to supply millions of Europeans with fresh fruit and vegetables within 24 hours. In the coming years, there will be further improvements to Westland’s infra structure and accessibility which focus on connections to the Hook of Holland ferry services, the port of Rotterdam and the A4 motorway to Schiphol.
WESTERLEE RENEWED
OVERHAUL OF THE VEILINGROUTE – A4 CONNECTION (2020-2022)
The N211 (Wippolderlaan) and the N222 (Veilingroute) connect Westland to the A4 motorway. In the coming years, these roads will be reconstructed for faster traffic flow.
The roundabout interchange at the end of the A20 motorway has a new, shorter and faster connection to the Hook of Holland port. A roundabout has also been constructed in the direction of Naaldwijk, which now provides a direct connection to the N222 (Veilingroute) and A4 motorway via the Westland route.
DEN HAAG
MAASDELTA TUNNEL (2024)
Last year, the green light was given for the Maasdelta Tunnel. It will pass under the Nieuwe Waterweg and will be situated between the A20 at Vlaardingen and the A15 at Rozenburg. The tunnel will be connected to a new motorway and the A20 (between Rotterdam and Westland) will be widened. Travel time savings: 20-30 minutes!
DELFT
ROTTERDAM
AMSTERDAM
A4 SECTION: ROTTERDAM – WESTLAND – SCHIPHOL The tunnels between Rotterdam Benelux and Westland were opened two years ago and the A4 section near Leiden – in the direction of Schiphol Amsterdam Airport – was widened. This section will be widened further in the coming years to allow for better traffic flow and less congestion.
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Imagine... together we solve the world food problem. Food cannot be taken for granted. Over the next 30 years, the global population will grow explosively with an additional two billion people. We will have to produce a lot more food. But the impact of increased production on the environment must be drastically reduced. It is therefore important that we do something now and take charge. As the leading international Food & Agri bank, we see great examples of how things can be done better and more sustainably. By helping to kickstart and scale up the smartest innovations of our clients and partners worldwide, together we are addressing the major food challenges across six continents.
Growing a better world together
COLOPHON
Publication of the Westland Marketing Foundation, November 2018. This publication was prepared with utmost care. Westland Marketing is not liable for changes or incorrect information. © No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission. Texts
Printing
Sanne Bakker, ensanne.nl
Groenprint
Translations
Visual material / Photography
Sobriquet
George Steinmetz (cover), Rolf
The Westland Marketing Foundation connects, showcases and positions the greenhouse horticulture community nationally and internationally. Sustainability, innovation and entrepreneurship. Inspiring success stories. Plenty of job opportunities.
Where nature meets innovation.
van Koppen, Ministerie With contributions by
Landbouw, Natuur en
Aart van den Bos, Ben
Voedselkwaliteit, Arjan de
Driessen, Bram Tijmons,
Jager, Coöperatie Door,
Carola Schouten, Corien
Priva, vers+, Pieternel
Zuijdwegt, René Hanssen,
van der Velden, Kuiper
Rob Baan
Compagnons, Rijk Zwaan, LTO Glaskracht, Ter Laak
Editing/ads
Orchids, Ossip van
Angelique de Wit, Ilse de
Duivenbode, 123RF,
Wilde, Jenny Vermeulen
Nature’s Pride
Design JENK
This newspaper was produced CO2 positive on recycled paper. We have planted six trees to compensate for releasing CO2 during the production process. This makes the newspaper CO2 positive.
Westland Marketing aims to put Westland on the map with its target groups in a positive way. It does this by focusing on the themes of innovation, sustainability and entrepreneurship to raise the region’s profile. The success stories of Westland companies give shape to this and at the same time set out the framework for the region’s job opportunities for graduates and professionals who want to take the next step in their career. westland.info Collaborating in Westland or beyond? Contact us: info@westland.info. We are located in the heart of horticulture: World Horti Center, Europa 1, Naaldwijk.