Netherlands

We are to be in The Netherlands for around a week and are being hosted by two Nuffield Scholars, Djuke van der Maat and Henk Smith. Tafi Manjala, another scholar is also joining us for a few days.
Travelling around the country by van adds a new dimension to the trip as we have not had to drive up until this point.
We are based about 1 hour north of Amsterdam for the week and will travel up to three hours to our appointments.

Djuke in her Farm Shop

Some of the highlights were;

Holland VanDijke Semo Seed Co
Co was started in 1914,  based on grass seed, and fodder beet production
Co was purchased by Limagrain  in 1981, and Henk purchase the company in1995, when there was a downturn in the business.
-The company has 30 employees, 6 in the field as agronomy and company representatives, 5 are plant breeders, warehouse space of 13,000 sq meters, and their annual turnover is  € 11 M
There has been a move towards specialised  Green manure and catch crop seed production, as well as grass seed, rape seed, spinach, fodder radish and mustard seed.
-Holland has about 4000 ha in seed production, producing 4000 ton of grass seed, 3000 ton of rape seed, and 1000 ton of catch and green manure seed.
Seed  is exported all over the world.
Henk has found that he has had to increase his return to the grower lately, as poor seasonal production, and increases in cereal production has reduced his grower base.
-Main Challenges to his company.
-Weather is very variable,  effects seed quality and tonnage
-EU unions decisions impact on his production with their regulation on chemicals and land set-asides
- Farmers are given contracts based on either a min price or a set price. He sells perennial rye for around $2kg (euro) and makes about 30 Euros per kg
Europes seed production  is aprox 200000 ton, 80,000 is produced in Denmark, he is trying to break into the danish market
Conpamy values are
Growing a quality seed, good service, Flexibility, and keeping clients informed.
breeding varieties that have resistance to disease, particularly nematodes

German farmers are given 1600 euros per ha to grow corn and rape seed crops. Denmark and France, obligate their farmers to grow a winter crop instead of fallows, to catch nutrients.
Henk sells a Gluten free Oat product, and gets that status by several extra cleaning processes.
Interesting to note that the Company was instrumental in bringing us Pasja, a specialised feed for finishing livestock.

Henk Van Dijke owner of Vandijke Semo

 


The next visit took us by suprise, partly because we drove to Germany without realising we had crosssed the border and partly because of the shear size of the faclities.

Meyer Werft Ship Builders
est in 1795, in Papenburg, Germany, still a family company
Huge development, two dry docks, 2500 employees, two shifts per day, building cruise ships, tankers, livestock carriers, river cruisers.
Using the latest technology and software with computer controlled cutting and welding practices.
Modular construction, working to timelines, with delivery penalties
building some of the worlds largest ocean cruisers and liners, with every conceivable  convenience and luxury.
Ships are floated in their dry docks, and taken down the river with meters to spare at bridges, to the sea.  Large liners, take 3 years to plan, and can be built in 12 months.

More from the Netherlands soon....