Cooperation in Horticulture Rob van Brouwershaven Director Plant Agri Chains and Food Quality Departement
An interesting press release In Groenten en Fruit of august 7 th, 2015: ALMERIA BREAKS ALL RECORDS 2014/2015 compared to 2013/2014: - More acreage - More production - More turnover Spain/Andalusia/Almeria: Competitor or Partner?
Dutch Horticulture and Starting Materials World player. producing seeds and seed potatoes, fruits and vegetables, flowers and plants, bulbs and ornamental trees. Contributes to sustainable solutions - food security and safety, water, energy, health and well being and a green environment.
A FAVOURABLE STARTING POSITION Favourable climate for horticultural production A strong position in the international market Many consumers nearby in the EU Centre of production and trade Knowledge and Innovation Growers and traders are entrepreneurs And, most important, because of history of cooperation and sharing knowledge: Auction system (flowers) Cooperation between growers, (seed) industry, suppliers, research, education, ministries etc. Horticulture and Starting Materials 2015
PRIVATE, PUBLIC, KNOWLEDGE COOPERATION Horticulture and Starting Materials 2015
High tech Life Sciences Agri&Food Logistics Companies Water Creative Industry Energy ENTERPRISE POLICY Chemicals Science & Education Government Horticulture
Developments and Challenges - Economic crisis - Russian boycott - Saturated markets < > less consumption of fresh vegetables - Changes in the value chain - Institutional changes - Increasing demands on healthy and sustainable food
3 Tasks to strengthen the perspective of Dutch Horticulture: Policy Letter Horticulture 1. Internationalisation and cooperating value chains 2. Sustainability of the production (in the whole production chain) 3. Spatial restructuring of greenhouse horticulture
Internationalisation and cooperating value chains More international competition Developing new business models with distinctive products: new, tasty and healthy food
Relation Horticulture, Health and Food policy The Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR) recommends a food policy with 3 important challenges: 1. Ecological sustainability 2. Public health 3. Robustness
ROBUSTNESS - IP LEGISLATION The importance of Plant Breeding for future challenges Intellectual Property and plant breeding: Plant Variety Protection (PVP) or Patents? PVP open innovation with the breeders exemption Patents on plant traits -> risks of monopolisation and bad for Small and Medium Enterprises and for innovation NL wants the Biotech-directive 98/44/EC to be changed Visit Minister of Agriculture on the 5th and 6th of November
Internationalisation and cooperating value chains Support from the government: Program on innovation Reform of single Common Market Organization (scmo) fruits and vegetables. Producer organizations and interbranch organizations in the CMO
Sustainability of the production Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Less emission of plant protection products and fertilizer to the environment Reduction of the use of (fossil) energy. Support from the government: Guarantee on market introduction of innovations Update of programs like Greenhouse as a source of energy energy saving in greenhouses use of geothermal energy
SUSTAINABLE CROP PROTECTION EU action plan: - To promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM). - Lower risk crop protection methods and techniques (e.g. biological control), basic substances and low risk products. - Encourage research into non-chemical alternatives and lower-risk products within the EU. - And promote the approval of basic substances and the authorisation of low-risk products.
Concluding remarks Perspective for Dutch Horticulture Internationalization Cooperating value chains Sustainability in the whole chain Market renewal and new business models A consumer oriented approach combined with a better marketing Especially working together... Thank you for your attention...