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"Refrigeration and storage technologies are becoming increasingly essential"

Climate challenges drive demand for advanced refrigeration and storage solutions

Extreme weather caused by climate change means that both organic and conventional farmers worldwide can no longer rely on past results. These weather fluctuations impact yield quality, supply volumes, and continuity. As a result, there is a growing focus on the quality of refrigeration and storage technologies.

Luuk Salomons: "The world is our playing field"

A global company in refrigeration and storage technology is Omnivent, based in Zeewolde. The company has been owned by Luuk Salomons (56) since 2000. As a young graduate from Wageningen University (agricultural engineering and measurement & control technology), he took the initiative to acquire the company. He was already familiar with Omnivent, having completed an internship and worked there for several years. In the late 1990s, the opportunity arose for him to take over the business. Luuk took out an additional mortgage on his home, secured bank financing, and raised additional funds from family and friends. Accounting-wise, the acquisition turned out to be relatively straightforward.

"It was a big leap of faith," Luuk recalls, "but my background and experience at Omnivent gave me enough strategic confidence to successfully continue the company. And we did. At the time, we had 40 full-time employees; today, we have 175. Of course, you can't anticipate every operational challenge that comes your way during and after a relaunch. In those moments, perseverance and creativity are crucial. But perhaps most important is the support of family and friends. If they step away, self-confidence quickly fades, and that's the beginning of the end."

Technical principles
Omnivent aims to ensure year-round food availability by designing and building customized storage solutions based on specific customer needs worldwide. "Not every country or continent experiences the same weather extremes. We are only at the beginning of structural changes in climate patterns, making it very difficult to identify clear trends. The weather has become increasingly unpredictable, putting farmers—both conventional and organic—at greater risk."

To mitigate these risks, Luuk emphasizes the importance of reliable refrigeration and storage solutions that allow farmers to preserve their yields for extended periods, ensuring a steady supply. "To continue meeting global demand, we focus on three core principles: product quality, energy efficiency, and ease of operation."

For years, Omnivent has collaborated with customers to expand knowledge on preserving agricultural and fresh produce. "Additionally, our research and development team is continuously innovating. By applying this knowledge and development, we can keep meeting customer demands."

"Refrigeration and storage technologies are becoming increasingly robust"

Market opportunities and threats
We are well aware of the challenges posed by climate change, economic instability, political uncertainties, and social factors. The global order is undergoing significant changes," Luuk acknowledges. However, he believes that every challenge, no matter how fundamental, also brings new opportunities.

"We are already seeing a rising demand for more advanced refrigeration and storage systems. Farmers are increasingly focused on maintaining the quality of their yields rather than just maximizing volume. In other words, they want to be able to sell everything they harvest, reducing waste and optimizing their net revenue. Refrigeration and storage play a key role in achieving this."

Omnivent completes between 150 and 175 projects worldwide each year, serving both conventional and organic farmers as well as related businesses. The company's strategy for growth and resilience is built on diversification. "Our production facilities are in Poland, our research and development center is in the Netherlands, and we serve markets across all continents. The physical markets we operate in can vary greatly, but because we always design and build custom solutions, we remain highly adaptable."

The concept of "focus" does not exist in Luuk's approach. "Too much geographical focus can become a vulnerability. It limits flexibility and increases risk.

Continuity
Looking ahead to 2025, Luuk and his team will need to continue adapting to global challenges. According to him, this requires an ongoing emphasis on professionalism and fostering employee loyalty—key pillars of a strong organization. "Retaining people is critical. A major challenge will be filling the demand for highly skilled professionals. As we all know, there is a serious shortage of technically trained workers in the Netherlands, and we are feeling the impact of that as well."

Luuk admits there is no immediate solution to this issue. However, he sees strong potential in the organic sector. "We are witnessing a global increase in demand for organic and biodynamic agriculture. Currently, about 15% of our client base consists of organic and biodynamic farmers, and we expect this share to grow by 2025."

Returning to his guiding principle, Luuk concludes: "We will continue keeping a sharp eye on global developments in 2025—because the world is our playing field."

For more information:
Luuk Salomons
Omnivent
Morseweg 1
3899 BP Zeewolde
www.omnivent.com