Last month Maren Schoormans joined Viscon Group as Chief Business Development Officer . He started in the middle of the corona crisis , but that does n’t stop him looking ahead in the clause below in which he tackles some biases , partake in his own ( biased ) forecasting , extend to on local prediction and the office of the Dutch horticultural sector in circulate this . “ Let ’s continue to instigate and help other countries build their own local yield facilities . ”
“ I am activated to be able to do work from the heart of this company that breathes innovation . Me and the squad are motivated and full of idea , but challenging times have arrived for our manufacture , with immediate result on our customers , the cultivator and farmers . It breaks my heart to see excellent enterpriser scramble .
Where is this going ? I read many prediction on what the world , society and the food for thought and agriculture stage business could look like after the crisis . We ’re beginning to realise that we ’re just at the start of a globular economic crisis and recovery may take several year . Nobody knows what ’s ahead , but we need credible stories to conduct us while we aline , adapt and explore chance throughout the impendent niche . ”
Confirmation biasWhenever making predictions , Maren tries to beware of what ’s address the confirmation diagonal . “ Our visual sensation is influenced by beliefs and preferences . Here ’s a few examples . Microsoft and Zoom betoken on-line meetings are here to remain . Okay , that ’s a no - brainer ( but please make it 3D ) .
Blockchain experts severalise me the crisis could angle over the existing fiscal system and give rise to the crypto currency . Maybe , but who really realize these phenomena ?
Robot developer tell me that we will see the accelerated adoption of robotics in gardening shortly . Eventually yes , but the technology has yet to see the ascent stage and it ’s not unconvincing that workers become useable because of jobs that are lost in other sector .
erect farmers enjoin me this will be the classic years of the breakthrough of growing without daylight . I am excited about the potency and the engineering science , but it ’s still work on in progress as the patronage case is not solid yet , and feasibleness is still mostly limited to specialism leafy crops .
Then there ’s artificial intelligence . Some lay claim that a twosome of years from now we do n’t need experient growers any longer . I get it on that dream and we want to help speed this but be naturalistic for now . Running a profitable greenhouse operation takes a lot more than automatic optimal setpoints for clime and irrigation . But it ’s a great beginning .
finally it will find , and we will advance every proficient theme initiative that could extend to our see future tense , because clime change is already forcing us to protect our most worthful crops . ”
First bridge the chasmBut in the next yoke of twelvemonth , people must mind the chasm , Maren states . “ There ’s a break we call for to bridge over . New AI and robotics are underway , but not yet able to enable illimitable scalability of controlled environment Department of Agriculture . It is fresh to look for the best arrangement and engineering that are tested and proven , team up up with experient partner and invest clock time and money in breeding staff . And while doing that , sweep up innovation and aid testing and ameliorate the new technologies .
During a crisis investors search for liquid and as a issue lots of startups are allow without funding , which worry me because we need all the idea we can get to cope with tomorrow ’s challenge . We must keep the innovation go bad and embrace technical institution , but also keep a close lookout on what is going to be embraced by consumer .
Consumer behavior has changed over the course of action of just weeks . Will tomorrow ’s consumer , drive by the crisis and increased awareness on food and health , press our industry toward accelerated innovation of what we produce ? ”
Prediction“Allow me to evidence you my ( probably biased ) prevision ” , Maren go forward . “ I hope that the crisis will give a final blow to mindless consumerism . The economic downturn and exuberant government expenditure will have a big wallop on jobs , taxis , backing and the great unwashed ’s income . Many people will buy what they really need and retrieve twice before fly 3000 miles to go shopping and skiing in the desert . And do we need a new wardrobe for every season ? Own multiple cars or own a machine at all ?
Also , those who are lucky to be able to buy more than they need , will opt product that are hunky-dory in many respects . Is it produced in a sustainable manner , preferably do good the local saving , produce under ethical practice ? Is it durable , can it be upgraded or recycled ?
And for fresh produce you could add the questions : ‘ is it good for me ? ’ and ‘ does it taste proficient ? ’ The share of belly of reinvigorated garden truck and flora - based foods will increase on the toll of meat and ‘ empty ’ carbs . Vegan and vegetarian food could become the fresh and delicious mainstream .
This opens wondrous opportunities for innovation and novel variety of produce , coming from a all-embracing array of great and belittled , subsist and new type of verify surround . ”
Local productionWhich leads to the most popular prediction , according to Maren , among his colleagues and friends : the rise of local food production and as a upshot a decay of the land area in the large exporting countries like The Netherlands . And if so , at what fastness ?
“ Building significant product organisation in new mart ask large investing and competent people to work up and melt down the surgical procedure . In fresh produce chains , efficiency will remain key and import affordable sustainably produced vegetable and flower often makes more sense than local product .
The Dutch horticulture industry is the number one successful clustering , rent ’s continue to breathe in and help other countries build up their own . permit ’s keep our ear and center open , as well as the discussions in our connection of friend , collaborator companies , ‘ worthy rivals ’ , investor , retail merchant and consumer scientists . One of my motto is ‘ This is my verity , tell me yours ’ , which is also the name of one of the best rock albums ever . ”
Team upThe world needs idea , concludes Maren . “ At Viscon , we have hundreds of ideas and we love to hear yours . We are a family of 12 brands that each have their own expertness total from flora propagation , egg hatchery , warehousing and sassy produce logistics , industrial washing , hydroponics , tracking and draw computer software , tissue paper civilization and even concepts for retail shops and solutions for vertical land .
Increasingly often , we flux the enduringness of these companies to answer the needs of our customers and your customers . We pay for company outside our group to team up up with us and produce something great together . An lesson is our Hortimed program that offers a entire answer for medical harvest , from propagation to delivery of packaged goods , include trailing and tracing . We are passionate about rick ideas into world to unceasingly improve the food and prime system . countenance ’s link up and share fresh ideas . If we succeed bridging the gap the sky is the limit for horticulture . ”
For more selective information : Viscon Groupwww.viscongroup.eu
Maren Schoormans[email protected ]
