Innovation and sustainability are terms you often hear in passing . At a troupe like Van der Knaap , they are very much focused on differentiate themselves in those areas , says Peter van den Dool , Company Development Officer . " We really want to be capable to fend out in terms of innovation , sustainability , and quality . That ’s where the focusing is for us , and specifically in a bit of segment groups : tropic plant , veggie , cushy fruit , and medicinal cannabis . In gain , we also focus on upright farming with the Rooting business unit . "
substratum marketEnough has already been read and write about the issues surrounding free energy prices . But it is interesting to look not only at what that is doing to the sector as a whole but specifically substrate suppliers .
" On the one hand , we see the challenges and threats for companies , " order Peter . " For case , we see less demand for loose substrate and plug away products because companies have stopped or are taking a interruption . On the other hired man , in coco growbags , and in sustainable cultivation system with circular fertilizers - the bioreactor , the Organic Water System - we see a Brobdingnagian increase . "
Circular fertilizersWhere does this in high spirits demand make out from ? Peter first tinge on orbitual fertilizers . " Growers are becoming progressively aware of the importance of sustainable cultivation system . Think about recycling peeled textile and using residual flows . With the bioreactor for constitutional refinement , we have build up up the cognition and experience to also play a significant part in the product of round fertilizers . The monetary value disadvantage of orbitual fertilizer has now about disappeared . That means more growers are make up the move to reuse residual streams . "
In doing so , it is up to Van der Knaap to show the grower that those residuary streams full meet quality requirement . " That means that even if we habituate residual streams from other sector , there is no danger - those circular fertilizers are 100 % secure . We also see this reflected in the sake : more and more growers and grower associations are become for the sustainable choice , aiming to make the sector fully circular . Where the energy crisis has caused problem on the one hand , it is at the same meter also a equipment driver for sustainability . "
Coco growbagsWith coco substratum , it is more or less the same story . " There , we were also face a Mary Leontyne Price difference compared to stone wool because stone wool is produced locally , which therefore results in low transport costs . With the vast gas cost hike , stone wool slab production has become more difficult , and coir is now even gimcrack than stone woollen . "
Besides that price ascension , people are also becoming more aware that Harlan Stone wool is a mineral intersection , Peter pronounce . " That leads to a large amount of waste , which used to be processed into sett in Germany and England . But almost no cobbles are used in construction today . Besides , agriculturist actually want to be able-bodied to return everything , include crop , as circular stark naked materials at the end of cultivation . "
This means that with an constituent plant and an organic cube , it is convenient if you also have an constituent cultivation mat . " You then only need to take off the plastic , and you have a amply organic raw material stream . Our R&D department is also doing inquiry into replacing the credit card with packaging that is compostable after cultivation . "
" Never waste a good crisis"“I think it is important , while we are facing a crisis , to lot with it in a good fashion . Never liquidate a good crisis - and I see that we are doing that not only as a ship’s company but also as a sphere . " In this , it is not only vigour that poses a sustainability challenge - but the sector is also presently present a third house to supercede peat as a substrate new stuff . " That is why we are going to proactively develop a sustainability strategy as a sector . We are doing that in the Netherlands with the VPN and at the European level with Growing Media Europe . "
On 3 May 2025 , a broad coalition of parties signed a concordat with far - reaching targets aimed at trim back the environmental encroachment of pot soil and substrate . The conglutination lie of 15 party from industry , central government activity , cognition organisation , and NGOs . Parties have check to speed the use of renewable raw materials , reuse of substratum , and responsible peat origin . It was also agreed that there will be an information campaign towards consumers about used raw materials and the environmental wallop of potting soil .
The ultimate goal is to deport added value in the chain with the substrate sphere , Peter explains . " And for that , we also need RPP peat as a buffer storage to total other circular raw materials . " Summing up , Peter sees several challenges in the area of energy , piddle , and peat , all of which are trip great development . " Sustainability knowingness in Europe is gaining adhesive friction , and both from growers ' associations and the substrate sector , there is a growing awareness that we have a responsibility in terms of sustainability . "
For more info : Peter van den DoolVan der Knaap Groep+31 174 296606[email protected][email protected]www.vanderknaap.info
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