'Tree growers insufficiently realize the impact they make with their work and business' |
|
|
|
|
 |
| 130 sec |
15th boom in business christmas dinner at compas agro in venlo
The tradition of the annual Boom in Business Christmas dinner is fifteen years old. Never before have we been guests in what can certainly be called one of the most prominent regions of Dutch tree growing: Limburg, more specifically the Horst aan de Maas region.
On December 4, 2024, almost 30 tree growers were welcomed at Compas Agro on the former Floriade site, in the Sint Janshoeve, which has been the beating heart of our host for a year now. Dirand van Wijk, director of Compas Agro, informed the guests about the company's developments. He also explained that Ronnie de Hoon will be leaving the management team. After coffee and traditional Limburg vlaai, the guests visited the current trial field of Compas Agro. It was also announced that over the next two years a new, larger trial field will be developed for the farm. Preparations for this have already started.
Grey gentlemen
The tree nursery sector is sometimes said or thought to be a sleepy and somewhat conservative industry dominated by older grey gentlemen. That this is complete nonsense was proven during the 15th Boom in Business Christmas Dinner. Of the nearly 30 tree growers present, at least half are under 40 years old and certainly a third are under 30. Only your editor and the representative of LTO raised the share of grey hairs.
The theme of this year was Making Impact. How can you, as an entrepreneur, make a positive impact on your environment? You can look very close to home, in your role towards your staff or the local community. But you can also take a broader approach, for example when it comes to the relationship between the sector and the necessary greening of society. Jan van Leeuwen, board member of LTO Bomen, dares to comment on the latter. His position would be that tree growers insufficiently realize the impact they have on society. Greenery has clearly become much more important. And the role of this sector is crucial in that respect. Rose grower Hans van Hage of organic rose nursery De Bierkreek actually says the same thing in other words: 'In the Netherlands we have a problem with nitrogen. The tree nursery sector is particularly capable of binding it in a good way.'
bert hesen
bas tulkens
bjorn van megen
wilbert van luenen
erik bovee
frank van den berg
hans van hage
has van hal
|
Dilemma
It is clear that the tree nursery sector can benefit from the positive image associated with social trends such as greening. Yet growers also sometimes come under pressure from that same trend, for example when it comes to the growing social distrust of chemicals. Tree growers do not always seem able to put their own themes in the spotlight. Martin Houben is director of Boomkwekerij Udenhout. Last year he had to set up a lobby with fellow growers from Brabant towards local politics. 'In the draft area vision, it looked as if there was no place for the tree nursery sector. We were portrayed as intensive companies that do not take the environment into account and obstruct housing, water, recreation and forest strategies. By creating our own plan together with the growers in the area, offering solutions to government problems, and uniting in the Treeport working group Midden Brabant (around 40 members), we managed to change the government's perception. Now, for example, we work more closely with the water board to find solutions to the water problem. The tree nursery sector should be proud of itself. We provide the greenery that improves the living environment and we have the solution for the problems the government faces. So, make your own plan, unite, be willing to adapt and just work together properly.'
Horst
Bjorn van Megen is commercial manager at Eurotree, a tree nursery located in Melderslo in the municipality of Horst aan de Maas. He draws more or less the same conclusion as tree grower Martin Houben: the sector is not able to make itself visible at municipal level.
| LOG IN
with your email address to respond.
|
|
|
| There are no comments yet. |
Tip the editors
|
