Standing still means going backwards, also in the agri-food sector. You have to constantly innovate, even when the economy is bad. Dutch agriculture has always done that like no other, which has brought it far. That is what Aalt Dijkhuizen, chairman of the jury of the Agribusiness Awards. According to him, the biggest threat is a lack of consistent government policy.
As chairman of the jury of the Agribusiness Award, Aalt Dijkhuizen, former CEO of knowledge giant Wageningen UR, sees a wide range of innovations pass by every year. "So many things are happening in the field of innovation in the agri-food sector, which is fantastic to see," says Dijkhuizen. "It's important to bring those innovations to the fore so that other companies can learn from them and build on them."
Conquer the future step by step
Continuing to innovate is important, says Dijkhuizen, even in economically difficult times. Is income under pressure? Then choose to take less risk or take fewer large steps. "Innovations can also be very small steps to advance your business process. They do not always have to be large investments. Never stop innovating. Especially when it is difficult, you have to conquer the future again step by step."
According to Dijkhuizen, as an agricultural entrepreneur you don't have to doubt whether there is a future. "One thing is certain, the demand for food is increasing worldwide. And it will continue to increase for decades to come. There are not that many products for which the demand is guaranteed to increase. So there is a market. It is not easy to fill that market as an entrepreneur , but the good entrepreneurs can do it."
Consistent government policy needed
The jury chairman does not see economic reasons as a threat to the innovative strength in agribusiness. On the contrary: "In a sector where a lot of money is earned, innovation does not necessarily go faster. After all, it also makes entrepreneurs lazier." Dijkhuizen is more concerned about government policy, especially now on nitrogen. "In order to properly value and benefit from innovations, you need a longer time horizon. Uncertainty creates bad conditions for innovations and investments in general. Clear and consistent government policy is needed to innovate. give to the sector, because that's where entrepreneurship lies, not with the government."
In that light, for some farmers abroad beckons. "However, you have to think carefully about where and how," says Dijkhuizen. "You can move your company abroad, but good entrepreneurship requires a whole (knowledge) network around it. In the Netherlands that is almost self-evident, because we have built it up for years. In other countries it is not just available, and that doesn't make it easy for farmers abroad."
The Netherlands offers many opportunities
Moreover, there is no reason at all, says Dijkhuizen. "High-yielding and intensive livestock farming in particular fits very well in the Netherlands, because it requires the least space. In our country with little available land, you can use that production very well. And due to our high level of knowledge, animal health and welfare are of the highest level and there are relatively few raw materials are needed to produce the food." Moreover, according to Dijkhuizen, there are countless new possibilities in the field of genomics, information technology and precision agriculture for even cleaner and more efficient production. "The best 25% farmers only have half the footprint of the bottom 25%. That's how big the differences are."
That is precisely why, according to Dijkhuizen, it is important to continue to innovate. The Agribusiness Award is an annual search for the most promising innovation in the agricultural sector. This can be innovation in all conceivable areas, large or small, and in both products and services. "As long as the farmer benefits from it," says Dijkhuizen. "The agricultural sector in the Netherlands is characterized by the fact that innovations take place everywhere. The innovative power is enormous, especially if you compare it internationally."
Does your company have an interesting innovation for the agricultural sector? Sign up now for the Agribusiness Award via boerenbusiness.nl/Award† You can register until September 4.