Smaller carbon footprint

Major players in the Dutch greenhouse horticulture sector are joining forces to showcase their knowledge and experience to a global audience. One of the goals is to help find solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges: food production, food safety, water scarcity, and fuel.

“It’s essential that we as a sector present a unified front,” says Wouter Kuiper, a board member of the Dutch Greenhouse Delta and CEO of KUBO, a leading greenhouse builder with a sustainable approach to covered cultivation. “Up until now the Dutch greenhouse horticulture sector has been too fragmented,” he adds.

The Netherlands has extensive experience with greenhouse farming and has developed state-of-the-art technologies and products. According to Kuiper, this should be more widely known than it currently is. “So far, we have not been able to communicate a clear message abroad,” says Kuiper. “Once we can get this message across we will be able to help many countries grow high-quality vegetables. Our systems also require little energy, which means a smaller carbon footprint”.

The best

KUBO, located in the Dutch seaside village of Monster, is a pioneer in the development of greenhouse concepts. “We build the greenhouses, develop the technologies, do the growing, and provide the services,” explains Kuiper. “We invest continuously in innovation and guarantee maximum output with minimum input in terms of energy, raw materials, and water”.

The company recently completed an eighteen-hectare greenhouse project in the city of Xi’an in China, delivering the greenhouses and providing technology, support, and data analysis for tomato and bell pepper production. “The Chinese government has a long-term vision,” says Kuiper. “They want to learn how to grow plants themselves and are looking for the highest quality and the best results, not cheap solutions. Of course, other countries have their own greenhouse solutions, but the quality is not as high. If you want the best, you choose the Netherlands”.

Food safety

According to Kuiper, when it comes to greenhouse horticulture, all countries face their own challenges, which can range from climate to geography all the way to legislation. “Luckily, the Dutch greenhouse horticulture sector has an answer to everything.” The demands placed by governments and consumers can also differ considerably. Some markets, for example, Austria and California, want carbon-neutral solutions, while others want food safety. “For China clean, safe food is important because in many parts of the country the soil and air are polluted”.

Pollution is not the only reason why greenhouses are often preferred in China. Climate change is making it hard to grow vegetables outdoors in many parts of the country because some areas have become too hot, too dry, or too wet. Kuiper goes on to explain that greenhouse yields are not affected by rainfall, insects, or disease vectors, regardless of their location. “Outdoor cultivation also requires on average thirty times more water than greenhouse cultivation”.

Kuiper believes this project in China is only the beginning. “They’re just testing the waters at this point. If it’s successful, which I believe it will be, they want to roll it out on a much larger scale”.

Technology and growers

Now that the greenhouses have been built, KUBO is remotely monitoring the performance of Chinese project. Due to the many variables involved in greenhouse horticulture, it’s extremely important that greenhouse management is carried out by experienced growers. “Just one small mistake can lead to crop failure,” says Kuiper. “Growing is a craft that is often passed down through generations and one you can only learn well through practice”.

However, not all countries have enough experienced growers that are trained to using the latest and most sophisticated technology. KUBO is therefore regularly asked if there are any Dutch growers who want to work in the greenhouses abroad. “We always recommend finding a local solution,” says Kuiper. “We’re trying to make the technology easier to use. Right now, it’s rather complicated and the easier it is, the more people can use it”.