Efficiency is the key

 Last night, our group of Sustainability Initiative Tour participants enjoyed a traditional Dutch dinner, during which we discussed the components of sustainable agriculture.  We all seemed to agree that the term must be versatile and relative.  Some of us don't even care for the word itself because it can be associated with false or negative attributes, such as a less profitable growing strategy.  Regardless, a key element of "sustainability" is efficiency.



A monoculture at the brand new ultra-modern and sophisticated Ter Laak Orchids.



Grading and sorting of tomatoes at Greenpack.

We have visited a number of leading agriculture operations this week, including companies serving different aspects of the production chain.  A commonality is efficiency: efficiency of inputs (water, light, heat, fertilizer, etc.), efficiency of handling and transportation, and process efficiency (transplanting, grading plants and fruits, etc.).  Efficiency can result in reduced inputs, reduced waste and shrink, reduced labor, and increased profitability.  Of course, efficiency improvements can also require substantial investments.  Those investments must have a reasonable return on investment or they may not be economically sustainable.



Manufacturing of authomatic transplanters at Visser.

 

Production efficiency is much more easily achieved when one or a few floriculture crops are grown within a growing operation.  In contrast with most greenhouses in North America, most Dutch greenhouse growers produce a monoculture.  When growing only one kind of plant, a crop can be produced very efficiently by optimizing the growing environment, plant culture, and handling systems.  It is virtually impossible to optimize any of these factors when growing dozens or even hundreds of different crops in the same greenhouse facility.  Will growers in the U.S. move to more of a monoculture growing situation?  I think our industry is headed in that direction already.

PS, To view a few videos that Chris Beytes at GrowerTalks published, visit http://www.youtube.com/growertalks