Onion sector invests 2 million in quality research

We asked Gijsbrecht Gunter, president of the Holland Onion Association, about the state of affairs regarding the supply chain-wide onion research that should lift the quality of Dutch onions to a higher level, so that the Netherlands can retain its leading position. In the 2017/19 period, two million euro will be invested in the large-scale research. The kickoff received much attention from the trade press, and even the national media reported about the special research. Primeur had a conversation with the overseer of the Dutch onion supply chain about the how and why of the research.

“Research is one of the three pillars, besides promotion and lobby, that HOA devotes itself to. Research is incredibly important. Without knowledge development we as a sector would be going backwards. Research used to be taken care of by the Commodity Board Horticulture and Agriculture. For example, we financed the Variety List Seed Onions, fertiliser research, and SNUIF was also an important collectively financed knowledge institute for the Dutch onion supply chain 25 years ago. That is all in the past. The mandatory collective financing has disappeared because politics are different now and the political landscape looks completely different nowadays, but also because entrepreneurs think differently and they now want to know exactly what it means for their company to be part of a collective. In the end, everyone starting doing their own thing, and that led to fragmentation, double the amount of work, and incomprehension or sometimes unnecessary contradiction. We argued for supply chain-wide cooperation ten years ago, and this research is once again an example that it’s possible if we all work together and dare to look further than our own company’s and organisation’s interest, and sometimes we as people just have to dare stepping over our own shadows. So, the cause of the research summarised: The need for knowledge to improve the Dutch onion in order to increase export options. The circumstances of the Commodity Boards lost and the founding of GroentenFruit Huis accelerated the plans. In the end, the companies now voluntarily pay a fraction of what they were obligated to pay a few years ago through the Commodity Boards, and they get more in return and are the ones in charge now.”

“Both. Although emphasis is on applied research — which makes sense for most companies regarding the time line — we are also dedicated to basic research. This is partially done through the supply chain-wide quality research, but we also have a separate four-year STW project for which basic research is done into receptor proteins in onions when the plant is infected by root rot, white rot or fusarium, for example. Purely scientific promotional research at the WUR, with a budget of 6.5 tonnes, that is very important for the future, which is why we are supporting this as a sector. The knowledge gained by that has to be integrated into the whole so that it’s taken up, or the dissertation might disappear into a desk drawer somewhere. However, in the supply chain-wide research, basic questions such as molecular detection of fusarium in the field, and inventory of known types of fusarium and their pathogens, the tolerance of certain onion varieties or perhaps even resistance against fusarium will also be looked into. Those questions might not keep an average onion grower, sorter or exporter occupied every day, but are the basis to do focused applied research.Other research projects are setting up integrated control systems against root rot, including the validation of warning systems developed by, for example, Dacom and Agrovision. But also a molecular detection technique to find root rot infection in the field, comparable to the detection of black spot disease in carrot. The developed knowledge remains property of the consortium, and perhaps certain knowledge can be cashed in future, so that research can be continued in future. In addition to diseases and pests, we are also dedicated to healthy starting material. That includes the continuation of the existing list of seed onion varieties we have known for years, but also an inventory of the means to guarantee quality of biennial seed onions. First we make the rounds with pesticide experts, and then we’ll look at which means are needed and how to speed up access of those means. We look at both conventional pesticides and organic or physical alternatives. And finally, we look at the influence of fertiliser on quality. Besides the well-known questions of quality influence of nitrogen on various onion varieties, dependent on, for instance, type of soil and time of nitrogen gift. In the past they looked at yield determination, but quality effects — especially after months of storage — were not researched enough. It’s definitely not that we give an absolute nitrogen recommendation, because that’s impossible, but some varieties do seem more sensitive to nitrogen than others. Existing knowledge is also dug up and shared. However, we are not just looking at NPK elements, but also at sulphur, potassium, boron, magnesium and calcium (through polysulfate). For that, we will firstly focus on the influence of physical quality traits, but also on the effect of the onion’s resistance to certain diseases and pests. The onion itself is full of valuable specific connections, and the plant doesn’t make those because we think it’ll taste good. Perhaps we can discover relations between specific elements and resistance. And finally, proposals will also be made during the project. For example, we recently decided that additional research has to be done to find out if there’s a relation between certain onion diseases and the increasing volumes of organic residues applied to fields, such as compost and digestate. So on the one hand, the research is quite broad, but on the other, there’s an obvious focus on quality and the three intrinsic channels 1) starting material, 2) fertiliser and 3) diseases and pests.”

“In addition to about 30 sorters and exporters, who represent about 90 per cent of the trade, nine seed companies have joined. From the growers, the Platform Dutch Onion Growers is active as co-initiator , and by now (Z)LTO has also joined us. Prominent suppliers including Agrifirm, CZAV and Van Iperen/Mol Agrocom are also contributing. But supply chain partners who focus more on knowledge development and research including Eurofins Agro, NSure, Delphy, PPO, PRI and of course the UIKC/Rusthoeve and WUR as well. It’s always dangerous to name names, because there’s the risk of forgetting companies, and that’s definitely not my intention. Our starting point is ‘everyone who wants to contribute and is able to do so is welcome, and those who pay, decide.’ That’s how simple it is, and how simple we want to keep it. Motive is also quite simple. Each individual player sees he’s part of the whole, and without the whole he couldn’t exist. Or, when we increase the quality level of Dutch onions, everyone profits, including the individual entrepreneur. It may seem like an open door, but after all, ‘the whole is more than just the sum of the parts.’”

“No, as I said this is a purely voluntary initiative, entrepreneurs are at the helm and we are working with the principle of ‘who pays, decides.’ Those who are excited and want to participate are welcome to, but we will not nag companies and organisations that don’t want to participate because they think they won’t benefit. Those who are convinced, join from their own convictions and I still haven’t met many people who aren’t convinced of the importance of good and practically applicable quality research. At the same time, we address free-riders of course, should that occur. It shouldn’t be that case that others pay but you take the credit. Take a look at other files that HOA is working on, such as Indonesia and Panama, destinations that we managed to open with great energy and money with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the embassies and which we still continue to invest in. If you don’t contribute to that, you shouldn’t expect to be allowed to place your containers with onions on the same boat as your competitive colleagues who have paid. Luckily we get more spontaneous applications than that we need to spend time and energy to convince people. All the media attention, the new markets, a broad quotation system, the lobby for MH, the big data project with the Agricultural Economics Research Institute, the catalogue, but also the support network and expertise we offer to individual projects of members has an added value. Everyone benefits from that daily, and it’s apparently seen and appreciated. As Chairman, I think it's a great honour to get the trust of such an enthusiastic club entrepreneurs to build great programmes. I personally greatly enjoy this, despite it sometimes being very hectic and overlapping. Fortunately GroentenFruit Huis an excellent organisation, and its employees are real go-getters. Especially the hard work done by Inge Ribbens is greatly appreciated, but others in Zoetermeer also devote themselves to the onion sector daily, and that should be mentioned as well.”

“The first results are expected in the coming months. The participants are in various working groups that are working under the guidance of Chris de Visser, onion expert of the WUR and project manager of this research. The actual work is being done by the experts in the working groups, and they will therefore be in constant contact with each other. Three members of the board of HOA have been appointed who are working intensively with Inge Ribbens on structure, organisation and content of the research. We as a sector also greatly appreciate that dedication! I am chairman of a steering committee that was created by a representative of the Platform Dutch Onion Growers and the seed houses. This is actually a kind of daily committee of which the project manager gives account and it serves as a kind of sounding board. Twice a year there is feedback to the plenary group of about 40 people. At least 60 experts are divided over the working groups, and they have a wealth of knowledge. That is unique, and combined, these people have an enormous value. The ice has been broken by now, people no longer have cold feet and they are excited to start working. The questions that are being asked can be quite critical, intrinsically, but that’s good. After all, being critical ensures quality. Of course, company interest is important, but we acknowledge that, and there’s so much more that unites us than separates us. That’s why we focus on mutual interests. As I always say, we have our hands full with that. Initially, the research was started for a period of three years (2017-2019), but all those involved have the intention to continue the project if it’s successful. This consortium is unique, and the participants are aware of that. That’s why they take great care of it.”

“In addition to the three intrinsic working packets, a separate working group consisting of communication experts are working on translating the message into ‘farmer’s language.’ Because this is very important, we started a special working group with people who are working daily on communicating towards growers and other supply chain partners. In the past, research was too often tabled or just not translated into practice, and that’s a shame. It’s the same as with farmers, once he has his onions in storage, he’s only halfway done. His attention shouldn’t slacken and his returns still have to be received. And it’s just about the same with this research. After drawing conclusions these have to be carefully discussed, and they have to be translated into practice. This last step is communication within the supply chain. Because everyone is sitting around the table, I expect many mutual conclusions and discussions. It currently happens to often that recommendations aren’t unequivocal. The working group communication is tasked with overcoming that. The central place where all publications and studies can be found, is HOA’s website www.holland-onions.org. Those interested can sign up for a newsletter free of charge, to stay up to date of the research results. In short, that translation into practice is very important, and is therefore given a lot of deserved attention.” 

“Quality is the most important trump card of the Dutch onion. If we therefore turn that dial, we are working on the centre of our export position. Quality should be something that goes without saying for global buyers, but that’s not always the case nowadays. In fact, I think quality has been under pressure in recent years. We therefore have to work on that structurally, so that we can continue to be distinctive in that and subsequently cash in on that. This last part might not be the primary goal of this quality research, but it should be a result of it. I’m personally convinced that quality is already paying off now. Just look at the top and bottom of the weekly quotation, but also the sales options to specific destinations that are becoming more selective and are willing to pay for that: GlobalGAP onions or the difference in price level of onions grown in sandy or clay soil. The authentic Dutch onion is a ‘Limited Edition’ and requires recognition and business sense to cash in on. Focus on quality and quantity doesn’t always go hand in hand and therefore requires decisions from entrepreneurs. Before you can make that choice, you should have a vision and I think there’s a challenge in that for both the sector as a whole and for individual companies. Large volumes are wonderful, growth is good, but profits and continuity are better. I am convinced that with the growing world population, increasing onion consumption, a brilliant logistical position and a Ministry of Economy and Foreign Affairs that supports us, we have a very bright future, as long as we can keep the quality high and we have vision for that as well.”

“The allowance of MH is a separate project that was only started a few months ago when the EFSA asked the authorisation holders of MH additional questions quite late in the process. These additional questions, which might be understandable, require additional research, which the authorisation holders are willing to conduct. In fact, the research were started right away, because the stakes are high. But that also takes time, and the authorisation holders should be allowed that. We therefore ask for attention for the process and the authorisation procedure in itself. The supply chain-wide research process, which we are talking about now, has been going on for much longer and has a broader focus than just sprouting dormancy in onions. We are naturally devoting ourselves to keeping MH right now — because there currently aren’t enough alternatives — but we are seeing it as a separate project, like we have multiple projects as HOA and other supply chain partners. However, the topic ‘sprouting dormancy’ is high on our agenda, and we would very much like to continue talking about the future with the project group that has been created for the MH matter. But again, the supply chain-wide quality research that we’re talking about is a different project that we shouldn’t stop even though the future of the sector is uncertain now. Luckily, the participants don’t want that either, and are pressing for continuation of the project. I’m happy with that, because it means people aren’t downcast and they trust politics to give the authorisation holders the space to answer the questions. The praise for the onion sector by Secretary of State Martijn van Dam - when asked by coalition partner VVD following the King’s speech festival in The Hague - were heartwarming. However, the responses of the same Secretary of State to subsequent questions from opposition party CDA were very weak and extremely formal. We as HOA believe that politics should be about procedure and the entire process of admission, but not about content. We have experts thats should be completely independent in that, without any semblance of political interest. To ensure that these agencies therefore function independently is an important political task.”

gagunter@gmail.com