challenge, recycling, horticulture, circular economy, Yianni Monahan, interview, grodan

How Grodan and Walker Environmental Solved a Waste Management Challenge

Learn more
Medicinal crops whitepaper

Whitepaper: The future of medicinal crop cultivation

Read here
Medicinal crops whitepaper

Whitepaper: How Grodan and Fluence are mastering the art of growing medicinal crops

Read here
Medicinal crops article: How Perfect Plants converted the crisis into new opportunities

Whitepaper: Optimal irrigation strategy for large-scale production of medicinal crops

Read here

Horticulture in the Netherlands and Europe: From 1900 to 2020 and beyond

Download report
The European horticultural sector is developing faster than ever. The only way to understand what these rapid changes mean and what the future will hold for the horticultural sector, is to look back at the driving factors for the sector’s development in the past. That’s why we asked management consultancy firm Berenschot to go back in time to outline Dutch and European horticultural events in the report “Intensive horticulture in the Netherlands and Europe”. The report gives a clear overview of the driving factors in the past and possible drivers for change in the future. A short preview:

1. From small family businesses to professionally-run multinational corporations

After the Second World War the economy started to build up again, which resulted in a strong increase in demand throughout Europe. Small family businesses became multinational corporations. The size of companies increased, but the number of companies decreased. The best growers now specialize and enter into strategic partnerships with breeders and retailers.

grodan, case studie, france, greenhouse, grower

2. Sustainable cultivation is becoming the ‘license to operate’

In times where sustainability is on the agenda every day, the sector is facing new challenges. Every player in the sector now needs to contribute to minimize their impact on the environment. At the same time, the sector’s supply chain has become more transparent than ever, while customers have become more demanding. Driving factors now and in the future will be to adapt to these changes and to keep up with strict government regulations, while producing more healthy and nutritious food for the growing world population. 

Grodan, plantop, plantop campaign, plants

3. The shift from ‘green fingers’ to IT- and data experts

Where before cultivation was very labor-intensive and lots of resources were needed to grow fresh food, the sector must become less dependent on people and shift to a capital and data-driven form of cultivation. This is a necessary development, given the predicted labor shortages and succession issues that the sector could face in the future.   

Visual IPS

Read more insights in the full Berenschot report.

20191104 GR ILL 5045

Download report

Our research reports

Visual, report, sustainability
Visual, report, sustainability
Visual, report, sustainability
grodan, blog
Visual, report, sustainability
Visual, report, sustainability
Visual, report, sustainability
Visual, report, sustainability
grodan, blog
Visual, report, sustainability
Visual, report, sustainability

Growing media and the efficient use of nutrients

One of the 15 global challenges formulated by the Millenium project is “How can population growth and resources be brought into balance?“ One aspect of this challenge is improving the use efficiency of the global resources e.g. nutrients. These nutrients are just as important to agriculture as water.

Download report
Visual, report, sustainability

How growing media have an impact on feeding a growing population

World population is expected to grow another 1 billion in just 12 years, and reaching 9 billion people in 2050, creating unprecedented demand for food, and hence agricultural land. To keep up with population and economic growth, food production should increase by 70% by 2050.

Download report
Visual, report, sustainability

Using less water when growing hydroponically

Water scarcity is one of the global challenges. The problem of water scarcity is a growing one. Water use has been growing at more than twice the rate of population increase in the last century. Food and agriculture are the largest consumers of water. As more people put ever increasing demands on limited supplies, the cost and effort to build or even maintain access to water will increase.

Download report
grodan, blog

Grodan experiments with recycled plastic in foils: 'Quality is guaranteed.'

Grodan has been working on various recycling trials for several years, an important step when it comes to sustainability. What are the benefits for growers when we use recycled materials in our products, how exactly does it work, and what is involved?

Read more
Visual, report, sustainability

How soilless growing has an effect on less water pollution

One of the 15 global challenges defined by the Millenium project is ‘clean water’. The UN-water (2010) statement contains the following text: “As a global community, we must refocus our attention on improving and preserving the quality of our water, a challenge that requires bold steps internationally, nationally, and locally. Directing global priorities, funding, and policies to improve water quality can ensure that our water resources can once again become a source of life.

Download report

Our Thinking Stories

20190114 GR PHO 220
Out Thinking

How soilless cultivation can prevent water pollution

70% of fresh water goes to agriculture. Growing global demand strains water resources. Unsustainable practices risk pollution. Grodan focuses on soil and water management for sustainable food growth. Check our latest research on World Soil Day.

We are a global leader in the supply of innovative stone wool substrate solutions for the professional horticultural based on Precision Growing principles.

Select your language