In September, PROOF will officially open its doors in Honselersdijk. "Three parties under one roof will form the breeding ground for innovation in horticulture there. It is a place where breeding, botany and mechanical technology can find, complement and reinforce each other to put innovative solutions into practice in an accessible way."
From left: Luke van Adrichem (Metazet), Paul van Dijck (Harmoniz NL), and Pim van Adrichem (HortiTech)
Three separate organizations under one roof, as each partner is basically concerned with its own activity. The resulting co-innovation is a realistic spin-off. With pride, Luke van Adrichem (Metazet), Paul van Dijck (Harmoniz Netherlands) and Pim van Adrichem (HortiTech) show off the new location.
Luke van Adrichem of Metazet says that: "All three of us were looking for a suitable place with the right facilities. That felt like looking for a needle in a haystack. It is therefore even better that we found what we were looking for on the Gantellaan in Honselersdijk."
"We put our shoulders to the wheel and made the location absolutely perfect. The greenhouse is a realistic environment where we can carry out trials and the energy supply currently matches the need. With a good leg height of almost 6 metres, we simulate the growing environment of our growers. And we have divided that up into very small or slightly larger sections to be able to continue testing," HortiTech's Pim van Adrichem adds.
That the three companies can also find each other well in joint development soon became clear. Paul van Dijck of Harmoniz NL explains the optimal climate for that spin-off. "The greenhouse layout is strictly separated. Half of it is used by Harmoniz NL in several departments for breeding and demonstration. Partly because of this, we have an increasing focus on high-tech horticulture. The other half is set up for cooperation between Metazet and HortiTech. We also strengthen each other in specific areas. That means we can test ideas against each other in confidence, think along with each other and work together.'"
Luke enthusiastically adds: "You can only stay ahead with distinctiveness, otherwise others will take over from you. And that requires creative thinking. It feels like a playground and outlet for everyone's innovation and development drive. When a question arises from the market, ideas immediately start bubbling up."
That it is not the intention that everyone walks in the door at PROOF is reflected in the various developments. For instance, in the breeding of tomato varieties that consumers want on the shelves. You also see it in the technical applications that can be devised, tested and proven under one roof. "At PROOF, useful improvement and change for the sector is born. After all, technical know-how only has value if you can experience, test and prove it close by and in practice."
For more information:
Metazet
De Lierseweg 6
2291PD Wateringen, the Netherlands
Tel: +31 (174) 22 58 22
[email protected]
www.metazet.com
Harmoniz
Gantellaan 8
2675 SJ Honselersdijk, the Netherlands
harmonizseed.com
HortiTech
Gantellaan 8
2675 SJ Honselersdijk, the Netherlands
www.horti-technology.com