On the Dutch television channel RTL Z, a program called 'How it's done' features entrepreneurial stories which are shared to inspire other entrepreneurs. Recently it was the turn of the greenhouse horticulture to show how the sector is doing. In almost twenty minutes a 'round in greenhouse horticulture' was made with two trips to the arboriculture and fruit cultivation. Several suppliers were given the opportunity to present themselves.
The broadcast can be watched here (in Dutch).
And now for those who have become curious about who were in the show, below is a short overview with photos.
Jeroen van Velzen (Aruna Lighting) expects greenhouses to become increasingly electrified in the future, so that the radiation heat as a side effect of an HPS lamp comes in handy for the heating of a greenhouse.
Marco Stolze (MS Sales & Consulting) sees opportunities for his digital auction clock, so that growers no longer have to be present at the auction, but can trade from behind their computer or phone. The biggest advantage here is that growers do not incur transportation costs if their product is not sold. This should also reduce the number of transport movements, which in turn is beneficial for the environment.
Merel van den Burg (Florismart) is linking florist and grower, making the florist the ambassador, as it were, of the grower. In the meantime the lines are getting shorter and both parties are getting more understanding for each other, according to Merel.
Erik Vermeijden (Technical Sales Consultant, Bosman Van Zaal) thinks that also the suppliers cannot stay behind in the efforts for more sustainability as is on-going in greenhouse horticulture. The systems of Bosman Van Zaal respond to this, also internationally.
André Koppert (Gakon Horticultural Projects) with his company builds greenhouses in more than thirty countries on four continents to provide the growing world population with sufficient food.
Geert-Willem van Weert (Vitotherm) makes sure that there is sufficient warmth for the plants in the greenhouse. 90% of Vitotherm's products are destined for export, which means that there is also an increasing demand for international service. Geert-Willem therefore has with Vitotherm the goal to bring that service ever closer to the (international) customer.
John de Vreugd (Altisol Isolatie): "It is underestimated how technical the greenhouse horticulture is today." As an example, he mentions the possibility of cooling around the plant in the greenhouse at orchid grower Ter Laak, while the rest of the greenhouse (even from 5 centimeters above the plant) is warmer than the maximum temperature for orchids of 28 degrees Celsius.
Barend Löbker in the greenhouse at Maatschap Gebroeders Vahl in IJsselmuiden, where Vortus Greenhouse Consultants is a consultant, among other things, in the field of geothermal heat. "There is an increasing demand for knowledge, especially outside the Netherlands where greenhouse horticulture is on the rise."