Dedicated knowledge partner helps achieve maximum performance
The culmination of dedication, that is the role of growing supporter Herbert van Gijtenbeek at Schoneveld Breeding. When he was a child, he was always busy with seeds and plants, now it is his daily work. “I stand next to a grower; I partner with them and help them look to the future. All to reach optimal cultivation results.”
The growing supporters of Schoneveld Breeding fulfil an important role. “We visit our customers regularly. We evaluate their crops, support them with problems and help them to keep up with new developments”, says Herbert. “Take as an example the quick reduction of plant growth regulators in primula cultivation. For growers, that transformation can go a bit too fast. Then I am there to support them and take them along in the innovations.”
Knowledge partner
“The circumstances are different for every young plant grower and grower. I see with my own eyes what is happening and meet with my growing support colleagues every week to talk about recent developments and situations with customers. We combine our internal and external insights into one piece. In that way, we can be a knowledge partner for our customers. We maintain long-term relationships with them, to know exactly how someone works and which approach could lead to even better results.”
“We proceed from the everyday reality at growers and are always available to help reach maximum performance out of our seeds.”
Maximum performance
The dedication of Schoneveld Breeding is being appreciated, so it appears from the reactions of growers. Herbert. “We are known as an expert knowledge partner in the sector. We proceed from the everyday reality at growers and are always available to help reach maximum performance from of our seeds. In collaboration with customers, we check which cultivations he currently has, where he wants to go with his business and what his customers wish. By giving a fresh perspective and serving as a resource I prevent what I call ‘organizational blindness.’ I support with new techniques and innovations. A beautiful role I fulfil for the whole chain.”
For the whole chain
“I may be working at the breeder at the beginning of the chain and my clients may be (young plant) growers. That doesn’t mean my role doesn’t go any further than that.” Herbert explains it with an example. “A grower gave me a cultivation problem of which I could say with certainty that it wasn’t a problem in genetics. Strictly, I don’t have to think about it anymore then, but still, I search for a solution. I work for Schoneveld Breeding, but mainly I work for the entire chain.”
Courage
You find that dedication in everything Schoneveld Breeding does. Herbert: “Sometimes I recall a quote by Winston Churchill: “Success is not final; failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.” That is exactly how it works here. You don’t know if something will be a success when you start product development. Still, we are dedicated to working on it with courage.”
Primula acaulis
“I was sceptic when Primula acaulis was developed. I worked elsewhere at the time, but because Schoneveld Breeding is known for its dedication in Cyclamen cultivation, I kept following the process. The aim was to use less plant growth regulators and still grow a uniform plant with excellent shelf life. So the whole chain can gain profit from it. And well, we all know the result. After a few years, it turned out the Primula acaulis from Schoneveld Breeding was a significant improvement in the available assortment.”
“By following developments and innovations, we can support with the right solutions at the moment growers want to start working with something.”
Peat free cultivation
To reach such results, the breeders of Schoneveld Breeding always study new innovations. Herbert points at the peat free cultivation that gradually comes on. “Growers in Switzerland make much progress with it, but in our trials, it is also a hot topic for quite a while. By following developments and innovations, we can support with the right solutions at the moment growers want to start working with something.”
Trials
“On the other hand, our breeders need growers for product development. We put new products in our greenhouses at first, but in the end, we are not a grower. That is why we collaborate with young plant growers and growers to see in trials how products grow out under different circumstances. The climate is not the same in every part of the world and facilities differ. For us, it is important to know how products behave in all those different circumstances.”
Honesty and customisation
“Everybody needs each other”, summarises Herbert. And in that, honesty is the most important to him. Showing what works and why. “It is always customisation; we have guidelines and adjust them for every individual grower. It is a collaboration in which you get the best cultivation and the best results by testing and trialing. In the end, the whole chain gains profit with that fundamental attitude.”