Video

Interview with Fons Verbeek

N&M: What did converting to organic mean for you?
Fons: Development and challenges! We gradually became aware of the importance of biodiversity and soil fertility for the quality of our product. After years of growing on rock wool, this was a real revelation. We were also confronted with the challenges, difficulties and limitations of growing organically.

N&M: Can you tell something about the insects and birds at your site?
Fons: The insects and birds help us with biological control in the greenhouse. We encourage small birds in the environment to control caterpillars in the greenhouse. Whenever I am in or outside the greenhouse I look out for insects. When I spot insects that are a direct threat to the crop I contact our experts and in collaboration with them we try to find a solution quickly, often including other insects or small animals. When I see insects that are beneficial I register them. Working with the insects has been really great. We offered our staff several courses and we can really see how insects and small animals are becoming integrated in our firm. Learning and understanding the topic is a lot of fun!

N&M: Greenhouse production is very intensive and energy consuming. What sustainable practices do you apply?
Fons: We have built energy efficient greenhouses, officially recognized with the Dutch “groenkas-label”. The heating in the greenhouses is realised with residual heating units. The heat for the energy efficient greenhouses is basically a side-product from generating electricity for the local utility company. Another side-product of this process is carbon dioxide, which is not released into the atmosphere, but funnelled into the greenhouses where the plants utilize it in the production of oxygen.