"We want to replicate how we do it in the Netherlands"

sooner this class , Delphy was taken over by the Canadian AgriForce . Now that the first of the ' takeover dust ' has settled , we take stock of the situation with Jacco van der Wekken , managing managing director of Delphy .

A newfangled shareholder on board , what ’s that like ? " It takes some getting used to . We are an sovereign company , and having another foreign shareholder on board does bring an superfluous dimension . During the discussions , we indicated that we would care to continue working together , but an important stipulation was that we would proceed to function as an independent company so that we could extend to deal our knowledge independently . That is also the sight of the Modern possessor . They desire Delphy to arise , especially in North America . "

Independent adviceThis independency is essential because independent advice and thought process are part of the culture at Delphy . " As consultant and researchers , it ’s merely in our blood to think severally in our client ’s stake , the agriculturalist . That ’s what it ’s all about . And that is await upon with heavy obedience by our new proprietor . "

In concrete footing , this signify that the raw proprietor will not sit in the director ’s chairman . " I will continue to do that together with my fellow . We do have a lot of contact about strategy , but mainly about North America , where the focus of AgriForce lies . That securities industry wants to import less intellectual nourishment and become more self - sufficient , focusing on cover refinement . "

To that end , a research deftness is also being fructify up in North America . " There , we will focalize on the crops we are also researching in the Netherlands because we want to replicate how we do it in the Netherlands . We are presently doing a feasibleness study to see which localization is most worthy for what we want to do . That has to do with mood , accessibility of skilled the great unwashed , and investment funds opportunities . "

Knowledge developmentIn twinkle of the many takeovers that have take position in the sector recently , it is interesting to ask yourself to what extent you may still spare as a small consultancy or even a one - man surgical procedure . Jacco also asks himself this question from clock time to time . " Our thinking is : if an advisor does not have a source of knowledge , sooner or later they will be behind the times . "

That ’s why Delphy decided in 2013 to determine up those knowledge source themselves . " The Product Board then expired , so we had to take care of our own knowledge exploitation . We invested a lot in that to stay in the lead of new development . "

With the Product Board ’s expiration , Delphy jumped into the gap for practical knowledge . " We build the bridgework between the fundamental knowledge development of the WUR and its lotion in exercise . We do this together with our virtual researchers , advisor , agriculturist , and other mountain chain parties . "

Involved growerIt is no longer so black - and - white that you , as an advisor , convey the knowledge to the agriculturist , Jacco points out . " When develop new knowledge , the grower is necessitate in the trials from the outset , together with the adviser . After all , the cultivation companies are getting bigger and swelled and want to carry on to lead the direction with new noesis development tailored to their company . As advisor and investigator , you have to be call for in this . "

In plus , knowledge is becoming more and more sole . " The openness of noesis is decreasing . And we see that the example in which the grower is more and more involved in research is becoming more common , not only in the Netherlands but also afield . For example , we presently have a pepper trial in which various foreign agriculturist are also necessitate . "

This involvement is a must , Jacco consider . " The smartest bookman in the course expect the most question . As an entrepreneur , you also involve to pull in noesis to yourself , and that is also something I see rise . Good entrepreneurs actually apply this . They are the I working on that . "

Educating unexampled peopleAnother publication in 2022 is the major shortage of horticulturalists . " The dearth of multitude who want to exploit in gardening is the big challenge at the moment . feel proficient the great unwashed with horticultural knowledge . "

That ’s why the Delphy Academy was set up a few old age ago to aim people from outside gardening to be investigator , adviser , project leaders , or trainer in horticulture . " In the Delphy Academy , we train masses in two to three years to learn ' the green trade ' . There are many people outside the sector who do something with biology or plants . Once they distinguish how beautiful gardening is , they want to learn more about it . "

Every twelvemonth , some 25 new people commence the track . " This provides a new source of people who want to work in gardening but do not have a background in the sector . With the training we provide , we can bring them into the Silicon Valley of gardening . A golden normal . "

DigitalBesides people , information processing system are play an progressively important role in gardening . You hear more and more about digitalization , but with the enormous supply , it is sometimes difficult to point out the most authoritative exploitation . Jacco lists three spearpoint for us , which play a major persona within Delphy Digital .

" We are flora people , we reason based on the plant . So we model plant development ; the grey noesis is in service of the plant . " The first spearhead in this digitization battle is the autonomous refinement of vegetables . " This mean that we see the greenhouse remotely , with the plant as the start tip . We do this in cucumber and tomato . "

In ornamental horticulture , Delphy does a mint in chrysanthemum refinement . " We digitize the polish and cultivation preparation of chrysanthemum . In doing so , the control of the cultivation is digitalize . " The third so - call in ' breakthrough projection ' at Delphy Digital is in fruit cultivation . " The end is to digitally control yield polish . This ranges from root pruning to spraying at tree horizontal surface . "

DataCrucial in digitalisation and research in universal is the aggregation of datum . But even more important is the interrogation : what can you do with that data ? " The unseasoned generation of data analysts can oversee this playing field of honor . That is why we can now take the next step , to compound digitalization with robotization . That will be an interesting step for the come long time . "

That combination is interesting , Jacco indicates because a robot can not only perform action in the greenhouse but can also pile up data point itself . " It can do that much more specifically than a climate calculator or sensor . "

FutureFinally , a word about the future , and peculiarly about Jacco . " I am and will continue a managing director of the Delphy Groep bv . I will retain to do so , and I really bask doing so . I also like the multitude here , and peculiarly the independent thinking . "

In July , Jacco celebrates his 23rd anniversary with Delphy , but he is not thinking of sitting back just yet . " I start as a polite handmaid when we were still DLV and part of the government . In 2005 the government sell the company , and now , seventeen years after , we have sold it , and now we are the large part of a listed company . And we are majestic of that . "

For more information : Jacco van der WekkenDelphyTel . : +31 ( 0)317 49 15 78[email protected]delphy.nl