When people think of Horti Consult International, they tend to picture high-tech greenhouses full of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers or strawberries. With a team of six consultants, we support greenhouse vegetable growers both at home and abroad. What is less well known is that a significant proportion of our work is in organic growing. And that is precisely where a lot is happening at the moment.
From conviction to a mature sector
Organic greenhouse horticulture originated from a clear conviction: growing vegetables in the soil, without chemical crop protection. Skal oversees this. For a long time, it was a sector of smaller businesses with a strong vision of their own. That picture is changing. Existing organic businesses are expanding, and more and more young entrepreneurs see their future here. At the same time, retailers want more organic products on their shelves, both in the Netherlands and in neighbouring countries. Thanks to this increase in scale, organic vegetables can also become affordable for a wider audience.
Resilience as a foundation
What we notice in practice is that whilst conventional farms sometimes struggle to keep diseases and pests under control, organic growers often succeed in doing so without the use of chemical pesticides. This is no coincidence. For an organic grower, sustainability and plant resilience are not just buzzwords, but the very essence of the trade. A healthy crop with a strong root system starts with living soil and a good balance in cultivation.
Products that strengthen the plant’s natural defences are, of course, an integral part of this.
It can therefore be said that organic growers have long been working towards goals that are now high on the agenda across the entire horticultural sector. Every grower has something to learn from this.
Regulations by country
Regulations remain a tricky issue. They still vary considerably from country to country, as does the transition period from conventional to organic farming. This is a pity, as it means the growing demand cannot always be met immediately. Anyone looking to expand internationally or make the switch would be well advised to research this thoroughly in advance.
Conclusion
Organic greenhouse horticulture is growing, becoming more professional and demonstrating that resilient cultivation works. As consultants, we are happy to contribute our expertise: not only to organic growers at home and abroad, but also to conventional growers who wish to increase the resilience of their crops. After all, a stronger crop is a benefit in any cultivation system.
