On a sunny Tuesday in July, Learning for Tomorrow spoke with Marco van der Sar and Lotte van Rijn, both participants in the Future Makers program and Raffi Balder, co-organizer of the initiative. We met at the World Horti Center in Naaldwijk. The epicenter where entrepreneurs, education, research and government innovate, connect, inspire and share knowledge together. While enjoying a cup of coffee and a glass of water, we talked to them about why they participate in the program and what it brings them. We also got into a conversation about the role of greenhouse horticulture within Dutch and global society and how important it is to tell the right story.
Collaborating and connecting for the future
The program's participants were deliberately solicited. Raffi Balder, working at HortiHeroes explains why. "We wanted to bring together a fairly broad group (growers, suppliers, etc.) of like-minded people with influence, so we started approaching people directly. Lotte van Rijn, general manager at horticultural technology company Certhon, was asked to participate. 'It wasn't that I always thought: this is what I want.' But when HortiHeroes approached me, I didn't hesitate for a moment. By joining the conversation with the other participants, I gained so much knowledge and new ideas. There really is a lot of energy in the sector and thanks to the group I now know that I am not alone,' says Lotte. Marco van der Sar's positions include chairman of the board at Milieu Project Sierteelt (MPS) and Bloemenbureau Holland (BBH). MPS is dedicated to promoting the environmental and social performance of producers primarily in floriculture. So from his role at MPS, Marco is already deep in the field. However, his participation in future makers has brought him much. Marco: "I am genuinely positively surprised at how much initiative there already is from different fronts on various topics with the aim of a better and fair story in horticulture. There is a lot of fragmentation and with 24,000 companies in the sector, the task is huge. But precisely by connecting on a personal level, you can put the necessary acceleration in place and it feels like a common goal. Lotte adds, "Everyone in greenhouse horticulture deals with sustainability and development on a daily basis. As such, Future Makers is not something that got us started, but it does provide a very valuable connection with each other. The program brings me inspiration, insights and the chance to tackle big issues together.'
The new story
Greenhouse farming has many hard workers, but few real storytellers. What happens in all those greenhouses, how does a bell pepper end up on your plate and why is green so good for you? One of the big challenges facing the sector is: the story. Lotte: 'Society has a certain image of the greenhouse horticulture sector. That it is all very polluting and costs a lot of energy, water and crop.' However, this is not entirely true. Organic, or: growing in the open ground, is widely praised as the alternative. 'But you need so much land for that that we can never feed the future ten billion mouths,' says Marco. Lotte: 'Our goal as greenhouse builders is to build the greenhouses in such a way that with as little chemistry, energy and water as possible you can create a very controlled environment in which you can grow all kinds of healthy crops. We do that all over the world and adapt the greenhouses to the conditions there. We are working on sustainability and good food supply every day, but no one is telling the story.' And it's high time for that, says Marco: 'Traditional children's books focus on the old-fashioned farm. With cows in the meadow, chickens in the yard and vegetables in the vegetable garden. However, a lot has changed over the years, but the story is stuck in the past. It's important that we tell people what it's really like and why the industry is so much fun and of great importance to all of us. Also when it comes to education.
Talent in the very best sector
HortiHeroes is committed to attracting talent to the sector. With training programs for students and (young) professionals, the organization drives innovation in the food and floriculture industry. The programs offered by HortiHeroes focus on 21st century skills: collaboration, creative thinking, communication and problem-solving.'To meet the challenges we face, these are essential skills,' says Raffi. She also emphasizes that you really have to embrace the uncertainty of not knowing yet. You can learn this in school by being action-oriented and doing as you learn. If it is up to Marco, Lotte & Raffi, greenhouse farming is the most beautiful sector you can work in. Lotte: 'Whether you're studying engineering, behavioral sciences, robotics, communications or HR, you can always go into horticulture. The best thing about horticulture is that you are doing something incredibly useful. As a student and (young) professional you can contribute with your knowledge and talent to the big issues in the world about water, energy, food. That is what drives me every day and what binds the participants of Toekomstmakers most; the passion for this beautiful and important profession. The horticultural world may be small, but the industry is huge. And therefore all the more interesting!
This article is part of the Regioportret Westland (article 2/3). With it we visualize how education and business in the Westland region work together on 'Sustainability skills': the skills needed in the circular economy of the future. We hope to inspire other regions to accelerate the transition to the circular economy. View the other regional portraits of this region:
Author: Clarisse Kers-van der Veld
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