At Kilburn & Strode we regularly attend events in the food & drink sector to meet with our clients, see what they and their competitors are doing, and spot and stay up to date with the latest developments in the sector. This summer has been no different for our NL team who, in keeping with longstanding Dutch tradition and heritage, have a particular interest and expertise in horticulture.
In June, we attended Greentech in Amsterdam. Greentech is the global meeting place for all professionals involved in horticulture technology and is where industry professionals from all over the world come together to connect, network, share knowledge and do business. Important themes this year included circular water management and sustainability in general. As so much of our fresh produce is produced in greenhouses, the technical developments and trends we see today will directly influence what we eat tomorrow.
With ever-increasing consumer-demand when it comes to sustainability, we see technology in this space adapting accordingly. There are companies offering solutions to use less energy, for instance by creating greenhouse glass that can be used as a solar panel, and less water, by offering circular water management solutions, where the water used is gathered, filtered and used again. An example of a Greentech exhibitor active in this space is Van der Hoeven, a Dutch company dedicated to develop future-proof greenhouses, see for instance Circular City Greenhouses. Vertical farming (the cultivation of crops in buildings on vertical surfaces, rather than traditional horizontal agriculture) also offers solutions for indoor growing, a much used technology in countries where there is lack of space and/or the outdoor climate is unsuitable for growing crops, for instance Dubai. An example of a company offering solutions in this space (including for educational purposes) is InvertiGro.
Other solutions to limit the effects of greenhouse production on our climate are found around growing materials, for instance 3D printed plugs made from biobased materials, and using biological products to create better crop results and support a longer shelf life.
Next up is Gastvrij Rotterdam, a hospitality exhibition in Rotterdam aimed at ambitious professionals from the middle and high segments, including baristas, hospitality entrepreneurs, chefs and sommeliers and at-service suppliers. There are dedicated pavilions focussing on plant-based products and veganism, organic products, sustainability and CSR, themes which have gained significantly in importance and become genuinely mainstream in recent years. Gastvrij Rotterdam will take place from 23 to 25 September 2024 in Rotterdam Ahoy. More on that to follow in our next edition of The RecIPe and of course if you’ll also be attending in Rotterdam, please let us know - we’d love to see you there!