Flower Council of Holland Flowers
Basic Material Newsletter Sept 2003
REGULATIONS ARE RARELY GOOD FOR EXPORTS OF PLANT MATERIAL
The Hortitec fair, Brazil’s horticultural trade fair, was held for the ninth time in the town of Holambra in São Paulo state. Almost 70 participants attended a seminar organised by the Dutch Agricultural Representative in Brazil. They came from commerce and industry and from government authorities to discuss phytosanitary matters and Growers’ Rights. Both these subjects are very important to Dutch exports of parental material and for building up an export oriented floricultural industry in Brazil.
José Amouri Dimarzio, Brazilian ad interim Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Supply, also attended. He pointed out the significance of both subjects for Brazilian agribusiness and stated that the new government would do everything in its power, not only to put a stop to corruption but also to sharpen up procedures and reduce the bureaucratic mentality exhibited by many government officials. He indicated that his aim was to ensure that import and export procedures took no longer than they do in the Netherlands. “If the Dutch can get something done within seven days, then the Brazilians must be able to do it in the same time, or even more quickly if possible.”
In recent years Brazil has put in place a number of phytosanitary regulations that often have the effect of inhibiting trade. The compulsory production of a Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) has caused virtually insoluble problems for several significant export products.
Although Growers' Rights have been applied to the plants Rosa and Bromeliad for a year now, it is difficult to implement them and impossible to provide the protection of Growers’ Rights for any other floricultural products.
Goos Bartels of Bartels Stek spoke about the importance of Growers’ Rights on behalf of the Dutch parental material sector. Theo Pronk of the Brazilian Chrysanthemum cuttings producer Schoenmaker Van Zanten spoke on the subject of producing plant material in Brazil. Mr O. Rebeiro e Silva spoke on behalf of the Brazilian government about the complex of international phytosanitary regulations. A. Goossens, director of the Holambra auction discussed the need to strive for quality, the creation of added value and the significance of innovation.
INTRODUCING A NEW CULTIVAR IS TRICKY BUSINESS
It looks as though the days are long past when plant material from a new cultivar could be sold on by a breeder or propagator to any grower in any amount. The controlled issue of new cultivars has been raised almost to the level of an art form. Breeders are doing all they can to extend the bankable lives of the cultivars they launch on to the market.
At first glance it may look as though selling the maximum number of cuttings is the only thing breeders and propagators care about. However, nothing could be further from the truth!
If a cultivar is planted in too great a volume, it can quite quickly become a throwaway. Excessive supply causes interest to diminish and subsequently producers lose interest in the cultivar. In view of the high costs involved in breeding a new cultivar and its market launch, breeders have every interest in keeping a cultivar alive as long as possible
REGULATED LAUNCH
Breeders also want their new cultivars planted by growers capable of producing a good product. This improves the image of the cultivar, is good for the price structure in the market and helps a cultivar to create its own market. Growers do not always agree with this. Although they are basically not against a regulated supply of a new cultivar to growers during the introductory phase, they feel that it should be up to the grower to decide what to plant and from which propagator the plant material is to be purchased. Recently the press published an article by a grower who argued that continuously regulated supply is anathema to free competition because it prevents supply and demand from being determined by the auction clock.
Issuing more or less of the plant material can control both the supply and the price of a cultivar. This is perfectly normal commercial practice. As long as the various breeders refrain from reaching agreements among themselves, there is no problem.
There is another advantage of regulating supply: a breeder will think long and hard before issuing a cultivar by any means that fails to come up to modern requirements. This was common enough in the past. ‘It is out of our hands, so, let’s put as much as we can on the market and hope things work out’, used to be the motto. Nowadays this is something that no modern industry with respect for itself and for the consumer can allow.
MACHINES FOR PRICKING OUT NOT ONLY GOOD FOR PLANT SUPPLIERS
The Dutch floricultural breeding and propagation sector holds its strong global position not only on the basis of the innovative new cultivars regularly launched on the market. Another sector also makes a major contribution: the developers and manufacturers of machines for pricking out.
These advanced machines prick out the young plants that have been grown from seed. This saves both labour and costs. In addition machine pricking out ensures consistent quality. The latter is becoming increasingly important for growers; the more uniform the plant material, the more uniform the cultivation and the easier the harvest. This results in less wastage and facilitates better planning, faster cultivation cycles and generates more profits for the grower.
Machines for pricking out are not new to the market but the most recent introductions are also linked to pot filling machines.
RELIABILITY
On the production line the pots or sets (used for bedding plants etc.) are filled with the required potting compost. The pricking out machine linked to the production line pricks out the young plants from the plug tray and pops it straight into the prepared hole in the pot. The machine manufacturers have thought long and hard about how to prevent damage to the young and vulnerable plants. It is also possible to plant the plants in virtually any desired pattern. This is ideal for planting up sets with bedding plants.
Another advantage of pricking out machines is that they never call in sick, never ask for time off and are not tired after working a seven or eight hour day. Producers are particularly pleased with the uniformity of the end product and the labour cost savings. In addition less plants are lost through damage.
BUSINESS NEWS
Engineer Sjaak Sijm has joined the sales department of Florist de Kwakel BV in Aalsmeer (+31 297 328229). He holds the position of Account and Sales Manager for Asia. Sijm previously worked for Geerlofs Koeltechniek BV. Following a period of in-house training he will take responsibility for sales and for the provision of information about Gerbera and Anthurium plant material for cut flower and pot plant cultivation in Asia. You can find more news about Florist de Kwakel and Anthurium cultivation on www.gerbera.com.
Florist de Kwakel BV in Aalsmeer (+31 297 328229) has taken over a large proportion of the Gerbera related activities of Royal van Zanten. This means that Florist de Kwakel BV now has an even broader range of Gerbera. Contracts have been signed with the individual growers/breeders Van der Goes, Van der Lans and Van Marrewijk. Florist de Kwakel BV intends to market the acquired Gerbera assortment commercially.
Well know varieties such as Annemarie®, Britta®, Everest®, Luna®, Meteor® and Tomahawk® will be part of the Florist the Kwakel BV Gerbera assortment. With these joint ventures Florist de Kwakel BV expects to achieve an even better position in the global market for young Gerbera plants. You can find more news about Florist de Kwakel on www.gerbera.com.
Hilverda Plant Technology BV in Aalsmeer (+31 297 325003) has published the 2004 brochures. In them Hilverda presents its assortment of carnations (cluster and large-flowered), Limonium (sinuatum, sinensis and altaica types) and Alstroemeria for the new season. Some of the highlights are Andina® (red standard carnation) Harlem® (green standard carnation) and Goldrush® (yellow Alstroemeria). The Limonium collection has also been extended by a number of improvements to the sinensis assortment. For more information and/or to order the brochures, please visit www.hilverda.nl
Bartels Stek BV in Aalsmeer (+31 297 382100), proprietors of, among others, Empire Roses have taken over the business activities of Rozenberg Rozenvermeerdering. At the same time the name Rozenberg Rozenvermeerdering has been changed to Rozenberg Roses BV. Empire Roses is a young breeding operation with a highly promising programme of introductions. Rozenberg Roses BV anticipates that cooperation with Bartels Stek, a firm with huge international expertise, will increase its sales market and provide support with regard to the assortment and advice on questions of supply policy etc. Rozenberg Roses recently published a new catalogue. They also opened a new demonstration greenhouse where rose growers can view the assortment.
The management and staff of Rozenberg Roses will all be retained and cultivation remains in the hands of H.P. van Koppen BV in Pijnacker. A network of agencies is shortly to be established for sales outside the Netherlands. More news about Bartels Stek can be found on the website www.bartelsstek.nl
Bartels Stek BV in Aalsmeer (+31 297 382100) has appointed a new agent for France and Italy in the person of Cornelis Pieter de Winkel. De Winkel has worked in France since 1980 and in Italy since 1985 as an agent for Van Zanten Plants.
During this period he also handled sales of Bartels products via Van Zanten Plants. Following the strategic reshuffle by Van Zanten Plants (see previous Newsletter) the link to Bartels Stek was strengthened and De Winkel now sells directly on behalf of Bartels Stek. De Winkel: “I anticipate excellent cooperation both with the customers and the workforce, whereby the emphasis will be on service, good plant quality and interesting new products”.
Carnation breeder and cuttings producer P. Kooij & Zonen BV in Aalsmeer (+31 297 382038) has published two attractive and trendy catalogues in readiness for the 2003-2004 season. These show the entire assortment. A catalogue is available for the Sunflor® pot carnation assortment and another for the cut carnation assortment (large-flowered and cluster flowered carnations). The catalogues contain information on the varieties supplied by P. Kooij & Zonen BV and the names and addresses of their agents throughout the world. For more information: www.kooij.nl or www.sunflor.nl
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