The company is run by Jasper Roubos, a sixth generation farmer. Potatoes, wheat, onions and sugar beet are grown on about 85 hectares of nutritious soil. Roubos relies on digital technologies such as precise GPS-based spraying, user safety and the promotion of biodiversity. This allows him a holistic approach to sustainable agriculture.
"I decided to take part in Bayer's ForwardFarming program because I wanted to demonstrate that economic success and a responsible approach to nature can work in harmony", explained Jasper Roubos, Het Groenhart's operations manager. "I often have very constructive discussions with partners, local government representatives and farmers who visit me, and can implement new ideas which make my business even more sustainable." Bayer's ForwardFarming network offers opportunities for very practical experiments, exchange, and cooperation on topics such as integrated culture solutions, product support and new partnerships.
Liam Condon, Member of the Management Board of Bayer AG and Head of the Crop Science Division, talks about sustainable agriculture at the official opening of Bayer's ForwardFarm Het Groene Hart in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands - an important country on the map of world agriculture
Despite its relatively small size, the Netherlands is the world's second largest exporter of agricultural products after the US. Therefore, the country is excellently suited to the testing of sustainable and efficient agricultural approaches in order to support a nutritional system that must meet a growing demand worldwide.
This week Utrecht hosted the Global Forum for Innovation in Agriculture. As the crowning conclusion of a week of talks about sustainable construction methods driven by innovations and new findings, Het Groenhart celebrated its official launch as a Bayer ForwardFarm.
