The van Leijsen family will soon organize viewing days at its home location in Poortvliet (Zeeland). A new construction project is being taken into use here, which has been worked on hard over the past year. A multifunctional, energy-neutral commercial building to complement existing activities in manure processing, manure processing and arable farming.
Van Leijsen has been active in transport work, contract work, fertilizer distribution and arable farming for thirty years. For many livestock farmers and arable farmers, the company is a pivot between the areas with a farm surplus of manure in the south of the country and the arable areas in Zeeland, West Brabant and the islands of South Holland. A significant part of the manure is processed on site and made to measure into Optimest®. Joop van Leijsen, company manager, explains the new construction project in more detail.
Why exactly was it invested in its current form?
"Many companies have been investing in manure processing since the late 80s. What many people no longer know is that at least a hundred manure digesters were built during that period. Many more initiatives followed in the decades that followed. However, they did not bring the hoped-for effect. success. To date, virtually no business model has proved sustainable, certainly not without a subsidy! It is no longer inexplicable that so much public money is going up in smoke."
"Furthermore, history teaches us that manure processing is not a goal, but only a means to close cycles in an optimally healthy and sustainable way. Of course at the lowest possible cost. Since 2014, the obligation has disappeared and the legal obligation to process manure has been introduced. We want our customers and fully unburden suppliers, and that in the most sustainable and affordable way possible. We do not use new techniques. Proven techniques and processes are linked to each other to achieve efficient processing. We only know an input and output and do not use of additives. We do not aim to create dischargeable water, but to realize sustainable raw materials for the soil."
What exactly does the sales look like?
"A part of the manure is separated, dried and composted on arrival. The phosphate-rich solid fraction (about 10%) is often placed abroad. The liquid fraction is placed with customers in the region under the name Optimest®. lower levels of phosphate and a high organic matter content per kg of phosphate, which makes it possible to make good use of all animal fertilization space on farms.
What is the most special thing about the new building?
"First of all, it serves two of our business activities. In the front part we can store and also process products from our arable branch. For example, the (sweet) potatoes, onions, carrots, etc. can undergo processes such as curing, condensation drying, mechanical cooling and This can be done in crates, but the flexfloor also offers various options for loosely poured products."
"The entire building is equipped with more than 2700 solar panels, which means that the entire location is now energy neutral. We have made a significant investment in solar panels, which means that the entire process of storage and processing of agricultural products, but also the processing of manure, by using our own panels of power is provided. The new building also increases our capacity in these areas. We hope to enter into even more stable and long-term relationships with new suppliers and customers in the future."
When will the open day take place?
I would like to refer to the invitation on our website† Everyone is welcome to admire the new building. We are proud that we can make a contribution on our own without subsidies, only SDE for the solar panels, to give the Dutch manure supply a place as sustainably as possible. We would like to share that with you. Please note: pre-register."