Five major growers' associations, who collectively account for more than 70 per cent of all Dutch greenhouse crops, have formally signed an agreement that will see them enter into a new partnership.
The partners, who are to operate under the name Federatie VruchtgroenteOrganisaties (the Dutch Federation of Fruiting Vegetable Associations), have forged an alliance with the Dutch government and Rabobank, with the new partnership seeking to restructure and develop greenhouse horticulture in the Netherlands.
The alliance is headed by Cees Veerman, a former Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, who said: 'We are not out to achieve overnight results with this process but are taking a more in-depth, careful and deliberate approach. We are pleased that the foundation has been laid.'
According to a joint release from Rabobank and Federatie VruchtgroenteOrganisaties, greenhouse vegetable growers, Dutch government agencies and Rabobank all agree with the conclusions from the McKinsey report published in late 2014, that the greenhouse vegetable sector is beset by poor health. While some businesses continue to turn a profit, countless greenhouse vegetable growers are operating at a loss.
Several industry representatives have recently engaged in negotiations to discuss what changes are needed. In addition to improvements to the sales structure, other areas of focus include infrastructure, geographic restructuring, agricultural logistics and renewing the GMO policy. The members of the brand-new allowance will be tackling these issues together, with each of the partners assuming their own responsibility.
The sector is seeking to position itself in the long run as the leading fruiting vegetable specialist in Europe and across the world. This involves using the highest-quality technologies, establishing a leading position in the main production and sales markets, maintaining a strong focus on high-value-added products, and taking every advantage of opportunities in new market segments and further expansion in growth markets.
In order to achieve this goal and be able to make the investments needed, businesses will need to become more profitable in the immediate future, the release stated. Based on an awareness within the sector that 'united we stand, divided we fall' - one of the cornerstones of the new plan - five major growers' associations (Best of Four, DOOR, The Greenery, Harvest House and Van Nature) have taken an important step in establishing the Dutch Federation of Fruiting Vegetable Associations.
