On Wednesday September 25, the Dutch Horticultural Business Club held its annual meeting in Business Center Klazienaveen. This year’s theme: innovation. Turnout was considerable. Many growers, but also representatives of the municipality of Emmen and the Province of Drenthe, had come to hear about developments in horticulture.
Program Manager Dewi Hartkamp of SIGN (Foundation for Greenhouse Innovation Netherlands) warned her audience for major changes in the sector. "Trade flows will change in the coming years,” she said. “Technology and knowledge will be the major tradable commodities in the future, not fresh produce." Hartkamp predicted that in twenty years, horticulture will no longer take place in the Netherlands, because production will have moved to other countries. Growers, she cautioned, should occupy themselves with innovation and look for new revenue.
After the interval the experts had their say. Bert Knol of Algaecom Eelde took his audience into the world of algae and duckweed. Algaecom is developing sustainable production sites where algae grow on the basis of residual materials. Soon the company will start a trial in the Business Center Klazienaveen, involving the production of Duckweed. Recently, the company has developed a patented system for growing high quality protein.
Roland van Driel of Mycelco shared his experiences on the application of fungi in solving the waste and pollution problem. He argued that fungi can be used to break down waste but also in combating diseases and bacteria. Chairman Cees Ruhe thanked the speakers and proceedings ended with a drink.
Source: Stichting Tuinbouw Emmen
