Koppert Biological Systems' 50th anniversary celebrations were met with a royal seal of approval this week, as Dutch King Willem-Alexander visited the group to help open its new information centre.
Following the opening ceremony, directors Paul Koppert and Henri Oosthoek led the King through the Experience Centre and the displays of insects, mites, and microbiological solutions that the company produces and deploys in agriculture and horticulture.
'We have been working hand-in-hand with nature for 50 years to made agriculture and horticulture healthier and more sustainable,' said Paul Koppert. 'Our people continuously contribute towards making cultivation practices more sustainable. The presence of the King today is a recognition of their efforts and crowns our work of the last 50 years.'
King Willem-Alexander went on to attend the start of the international ‘Partners with Nature Seminar’ which Koppert organised as part of its jubilee celebrations – a seminar attended by more than 700 international guests.
'We are only just beginning; we want to offer sustainable cultivation methods to a range of growers from high tech crops to arable crops,' said Oosthoek. 'That is the aim of this seminar. We wish to bring our worldwide network together and work towards 100% sustainable agriculture and horticulture throughout the world in a united effort.'
The newly opened 200m2 centre informs visitors about biological crop protection. Here growers, research institutes, students, and authorities from the Netherlands and abroad can find out more about the vision of the family company, research and development of biological crop protection, and production processes at Koppert, in an interactive way.
'It gives visitors the opportunity to experience how products are developed and how they work,' the group added. 'People also have the opportunity of viewing the natural enemies, bumblebees and microbiological solutions close up.'
