Six agrologistics business parks in Westland in the Netherlands have united in the Agrologistics Cluster Westland. Karla Peijs, president of the organization, says this cooperation is essential to get projects like Deltaplan Westland started, which supports horticulture in Westland. “Deltaplan Westland provides for restructuring of 1000 hectares of old greenhouses, and future proofing through heating networks.”
Working on diversification
According to Peijs, fresh thinking is required: “Modernization is necessary. Quality and diversification, is something to be worked on. Many growers are on the verge of going under due to lower land prices, high energy costs and outdated greenhouse infrastructure. The main problem, however, is still that products are made with little to no added value. They’re working with cost price and method, rather than growing something special, for which the consumer is prepared to pay more. What we’re doing in Westland, too many other entrepreneurs can do by now.”
Greening
The economy has to grow, but become more environmentally friendly as well. Electrification of trucks is part of that plan. Peijs: “At the moment, large-scale electrification of freight transport is not feasible yet, because no battery can handle the distances and weight of freight transport. Also, the Euro 6 truck is very clean. Nevertheless, on the business parks, a lot of electric transport takes place, even if it’s not with trucks.”
Strong hub
The cooperation among the business parks is going great, but Peijs says it’s different for the growers. “Westland is an important region for the Dutch economy. Agrologistics is worried about the growers, who, after all, deliver many of the products to be transported. The growers are facing debts, competition and overcapacity. They’re having trouble reaching a price-stable energy supply. There’s also too much bulk and too few specialty products. This region has a lot of hidden problems. The growers aren’t sufficiently united to make an effort to preserve Westland as a whole, but this is very important, because that strong hub also passes its strength to the individual grower. Without acting as one, Westland won’t make it. That’s a big problem for this region, a big problem for the growers, and a big problem for the Netherlands. Wake up!”