Anthura won the Horticultural Entrepreneur Prize 2019. With this prize, the orchid and anthurium breeder is entitled to call themselves Ambassador of the Dutch horticultural sector for a year. For this 33rd edition, the other nominated companies were Dekker Chrysanten, Opti-flor and Wim Peters Kwekerijen.
Our Dutch colleagues of BPNieuws.nl were present at the event and captured it in pictures. Click here for the photo report.
This prize is a crown on an eventful year. Anthura's 80th anniversary had a grand celebration in the presence of Dutch King Willem Alexander, and in different areas - internationalization, sustainability, involvement in various non-commercial activities - they've been in the spotlight. According to the jury, the impressive developments that the company has gone through, the sustainable activities and being a good employer were the decisive factors.
The jury’s opinion
The jury is impressed by how Anthura has developed over the years. The company has a very expert and committed management. Anthura thinks in terms of a long-term vision that applies not only to their branches in the Netherlands, but also in Germany, Macedonia and China. Sustainability is high on the agenda and is implemented in business processes according to the latest standards. Its cooperation with customers through the chain transparency project FSI, which aims to achieve at least 90% sustainably produced flowers and plants by 2020, also bears witness to this. The company invests heavily in R&D. This is evident not only from the DNA mapping of both Phalaenopsis and Anthurium, but also from the investment in a new innovation and breeding centre. The company has entered into a strategic partnership with other breeders under the name of GenNovation. Anthura is a particularly good employer; talents are given the space within the company to develop. With 35% of employees with higher professional or scientific education, this company has a lot of knowledge and expertise at its disposal that is used to further innovate and develop the sector.
Reaction Anthura
Iwan van der Knaap, director of Anthura: “We are very proud and honoured to receive this award. 2018 was a special year for us, in which we celebrated our 80th anniversary. The prize feels like a crowning moment, which inspires and motivates us, together with all our colleagues, customers and chain partners, to continue contributing to a colourful world! We thank Interpolis for its nomination for the Horticultural Entrepreneur Prize and look forward to being ambassadors for our thriving sector throughout the year."
Income Dutch horticulture companies
The presentation of the award took place in the Keukenhof, Lisse and as usual, it was fully booked. Numbers and statistics regarding income of horticulture companies were presented. Most stats were already presented end of 2018, by Stastistics Netherlands & Agrimatie, but were complemented with more info from several auctions and other institutions within the horticulture industry. The most important conclusion that was drawn was that the income has decreased significantly compared to the previous three years, but it is still high compared with many years before that.
Sustainability
The theme sustainability was highlighted from three different angles; by asparagus grower Peter Visser from Limburg, who represents a subsector that has been hit hard by the warm and drought summer; by tomato grower Wim Peters, who saw his greenhouse being demolished in 2 minutes by a supercell in 2016; and by meteorologist Peter Kuipers Munnike, who stressed that the temperatures are rising and the weather conditions are becoming more extreme.
King Willem I Prize and the AIPH IGOTY Awards
The Horticulture Entrepreneur Prize is a prestigious prize and worth the effort. The winner receives a valuable work of art, recognition, an increase in its network and media attention – values that cannot be expressed in monetary terms. Moreover, the title makes the winner eligible to receive the prestigious King Willem I Prize and the AIPH International Grower of the Year Awards.
Click here for the photo report.