What drew you to the agriculture industry, after a diverse career abroad across very different industries?
At first, I was hesitant to join the industry because I was unsure about what impact indoor farming would have – that was until I realized the pace of technological change taking place and the significant contributions I can make in the years to come. Separately, I had a “wake up” call when my son asked me with gravitas to become vegetarian, reminding me of the importance of finding environmentally friendly food alternatives anywhere in the world.
At Van der Hoeven we constantly try to find the best turnkey solution on a project basis. We employ models and data points on sustainability (water, fossil free climate control, pesticide and land use) while informing our clients on responsible project decision-making.
How have greenhouses evolved over the last decades, including from a sustainability stance?
Considering the projects we have designed and built over the last years, the facilities have evolved substantially for the better. In Japan, for instance, our designed and built glasshouse is electrically powered with a clean energy biomass plant. And waste heat from the electricity production process is used for heating and cooling of the glasshouse.
Is the agriculture industry transitioning from a global to a more localized model of production?
Although this transformation is taking place indeed, the industry should accelerate this, especially in regions like the Middle East and North Africa where factors such as water scarcity, extreme weather, and population growth indicate that the rate of year-round food production would have to pick up.
At the same time, the supporting value chain for high-tech horizontal farming remains behind. The transition towards a local model will inevitably result in a recalibration of the value chain so the principal actors in the industry need to show leadership in prioritizing long-term objectives over short-term KPIs as a force for good.
To what extent is your technology automated? What do you predict will be the role of automation in the industry?
We are seeing more and more experts capable of leading various kinds of automation — applied to logistics, harvesting, different kinds of crop production, and other areas — that help improve efficient and sustainable practices within this rapidly-growing industry. It is not so much that every company is seeking to develop the next artificial intelligence software or automated robot, but rather that we are seeing different companies improve automation on a case-by-case basis in their respective niches and according to their needs. Validation on projects should guide the industry in adoption of automation.
How would you compare Europe’s development of controlled environment agriculture to that of the United States?
I think that Europe and the US are in different states of the same industry. Europe has more history and with it banks show a higher degree of financing. In the US the industry is in development and there is a higher degree of equity involved.
What are Van der Hoeven’s key objectives for the next couple of years?
Our aim is to continue to assist clients towards responsible project decision making and to take responsibility for the design and build solution, as well as the production ramp-up period. And we are ready to take skin in the game on a case-by-case basis. Our dot at the farther horizon is to design and build a glasshouse where one can grow produce sustainably and autonomously. Therefore, we will continue to invest in R&D to strengthen our propositions towards our customers. This vision allows us to operate our business successfully for a better future.
