On Tuesday, the nominees for the 2025 Horticultural Business Award (Tuinbouw Ondernemersprijs) were revealed. Chairman Peter Maes made surprise visits to Plantenkwekerij Gitzels and Boltha Flower Bulb Nursery to personally congratulate the contenders. He also extended his congratulations to Kreling Chrysanten. Meanwhile, Jeroen Noot, the independent jury chairman for the Future-proof Technologies Theme Prize, visited the shortlisted candidates: CE-Line Internationaal, ISO Horti Innovators, and Valto Biocontrol.
Three nominees Tuinbouw Ondernemersprijs
According to the professional jury, the nominated companies are 'the absolute gems in Dutch horticulture at the moment'.
Plantenkwekerij Gitzels from Wervershoof is a North Holland propagator and breeder of cabbage plants (including kale, cauliflower, and broccoli), with annual sales of some 160 million cabbage plants to open-grown vegetable growers in the region. According to the jury, it stands out in good employment practices and sustainable innovations: organic fertilizers, geothermal heat, drones, climate cells, and sensors. The company was founded 70 years ago and since January 2024, Mike Gitzels, the third generation is at the helm. A young entrepreneur with both feet on the ground.
Breezand-based Boltha is a North Holland flower bulb grower of lilies, tulips, and grape hyacinths, among others, for both forcing and home gardening. A young club of owners with a clear vision that dares to innovate strongly on breeding and robotization, such as harvesting machines and packaging robots. The jury also praised the company's commitment to green resources, such as laser weed control.
Bruchem-based Kreling Chrysanten is a partnership of five chrysanthemum growers in Bruchem, Gelderland, with annual sales of 160 million stems per year for European retail. According to the jury, the company excels in innovation, its pioneering role in the industry, and its openness and cooperation with the region. A forerunner that pulls the whole sector along.
Three nominees for the Future-proof Technologies theme prize
Together with Greenport Noord-Holland Noord, the Tuinbouw Ondernemersprijs will this year award another Theme Prize to an initiative that stands out in a special way in the field of Future-proof technologies Innovative technologies in the field of smart farming, energy, and water, and preferably deployed in an integrated way. Nominated are:
CE-Line from Emmeloord is a scale-up that enables real-time laboratory analysis of the amount of nutrients in irrigation and drain water. Jury: a future-proof technology that leads to less wastage of water and fertilizers.
ISO Horti Innovators from Gameren is a developer of the fully automatic grafting robot, the 'ISO High-Speed Grafter'. Jury: Wonderful example of precision agriculture and smart farming.
Valto Biocontrol from De Lier): Developer of innovative technology V10, which protects tomatoes naturally against the pepino mosaic virus. Jury: responds to a major problem in greenhouse horticulture: viruses. An innovation that leads to significantly less waste, and is in harmony with the environment.
The Tuinbouw Ondernemersprijs is the sector's premier entrepreneurial prize, awarded annually since 1986 by the Stichting Tuinbouw Ondernemersprijs. Royal FloraHolland, Rabobank, Flynth adviseurs en accountants, Interpolis, Innovatiefonds HagelUnie, Glastuinbouw Nederland, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature, are partners in the foundation. And this year also Greenport Noord-Holland Noord. By presenting the awards, the foundation aims to raise awareness and interest in the positive and innovative developments in the Dutch horticultural sector.
The photos were taken by photography studio Vlekke (Entrepreneur Award) and Thierry Schut (Theme Award).
For more information:
Tuinbouw Ondernemersprijs
www.tuinbouwondernemersprijs.nl