What's happening in Dutch horticulture? That was during the sector update prior to the first day of tradeshow Horticontact, presented by the team of specialists from industry body Glastuinbouw Nederland. This time, the focus wasn't on what still needs to be done, but mainly on "what is already happening." And that turns out to be a lot, as demonstrated during more than an hour packed with information on a wide range of topics, from energy to labor, and from plant health to water.
© Thijmen Tiersma | HortiDaily.comRobert Solleveld, Guus Meis, Ruud Paauwe, Alexander Formsma, Jacqueline Kroon, Liesanne Wielemann, and Tom Prins represented Glastuinbouw Nederland. The specialists from Glastuinbouw Nederland provided the sector update as the official opening of the fair.
© Thijmen Tiersma | HortiDaily.comSeveral companies found a new spot at the fair. Prominent and impossible to miss right at the entrance: GreenV, where you can grab fresh stroopwafels.
Later on Wednesday afternoon, Conference Room 1 at Evenementenhal Gorinchem was once again well filled for a symposium organized by the Federation of Fruit and Vegetable Organizations (FVO). Here, the focus was mainly on looking ahead, including ambitious "moon shots."
© Thijmen Tiersma | HortiDaily.comHenny van Gurp (Glastuinbouw Nederland) doesn't just love strawberries. Leonie Hogendonk (Bayer De Ruiter) invited Henny for a tasting. Visitors can also come and taste different tomato varieties on Thursday.
ASML, watch out
The thought-provoking title of the symposium was: "ASML, watch out! The high-tech horticulture cluster is coming." Among the participants was former politician Diederik Samsom. After touring the exhibition floor, he said he was impressed by all the technological developments. The former Greenpeace activist was afterward "completely melted," but still proved capable of making critical remarks about the future vision presented by the FVO, representing five Dutch greenhouse vegetable growers' organisations. And that was exactly what the FVO had invited the symposium participants to do. Mission accomplished for Jelte van Kammen and his colleagues.
Same topics could also easily be discussed on the trade show floor, where over 300 companies were present to showcase their innovations. Or, are present, as the event continues today. We are diving into the trade show floor and will make sure to update you tomorrow.
© Thijmen Tiersma | HortiDaily.com
The atmosphere was lively, especially among these visitors who stopped by to photobomb.
© Thijmen Tiersma | HortiDaily.comBattiQ is responding to the post-hamburger dip that always seems to lurk in Gorinchem. No need to look for the escalator to the food court—this time, there's plenty to eat on the ground floor.
