Justin van der Putten joins DryGair for European market

Van der Putten brings with him a vast resume in horticulture, ranging from breeding and selling plants, through tissue-culture research, to horticulture equipment sales.

Experience Across Various Fields In Horticulture

“I first fell in love with botany while working at a grow shop in France as a teenager. That led me to intern in a couple botanical gardens, including Kew Gardens in the UK, and ultimately went to University to study Plant Science. During that time I bred and sold ferns, before finding my way into the tissue-culture sector, where I worked in a lab performing R&D.”

LAmir Kandlik, Justin van der Putten, Tal Netzer, Hadar Fuchs Rubal

Van der Putten’s experience covers both Europe and N. America, working for Vitro Plus, Visser, Bellpark Horticulture (currently part of AdeptAg), and Ets Jolly.

“At Bellpark, I started as an automation specialist. Working with growers to improve their operations is a real eye-opening experience. Most growers have been doing what they do for years, if not decades. They know what they’re doing and they know how to do it. I respect that, you’re not going to teach anyone how to do their job.”

He continues, “However, when people realize that they’re facing a challenge in an inefficient, ineffective, or overly complex or expensive manner, that’s when they start looking for a solution. They ask around, speak to colleagues, contact their equipment providers, etc. That’s where I come into the picture, offering a solution that I know works.”

Insight Into Different Horticultural Markets

Van der Putten has been selling DryGair units for years, as a sales rep for both Bellpark Horticulture and Ets Jolly. As such, he’s entering his new position with a unique perspective on the market, and a clear vision for the coming years.

“Things really differ from country to country. We can clearly see that the Scandinavian and Nordic markets are ahead of the curb, and early to adopt advanced technologies. I’m seeing a lot of interest in DryGair there, which makes sense. It’s environmental and economical, which fits well with the local market’s values. It also complements LED lighting perfectly, which is an integral part of greenhouse growing in northern countries.”

“Of course, you can’t discuss horticulture advancements in general, or active dehumidification specifically, without mentioning the Netherlands. We’ve been seeing a lot of installations in Dutch greenhouses, and I expect to see that trend gaining even more traction in the near future.”

“But my goal isn’t just to sell DryGair where there’s current demand for it” Justin continues. “I would like to increase the product’s presence in other EU markets, which are maturing into more controlled and advanced production. I see a lot of potential and interest coming from France and Italy, as well as in eastern European markets, like Poland. 

At the end of the day, climate control and LED lighting are becoming more and more prevalent everywhere, and DryGair is a natural piece in that puzzle”

The Future of Horticulture

“Trends go up and down. I’ve seen a lot of hype surrounding LED, for example, which is now standard practice. We’ve all been around for the cannabis boom in N. America, followed by vertical farming, etc. These things start out with a lot of enthusiasm and novelty, and eventually become a standard part of the industry.”

“Today the trend is to use data to enhance your grow. I see DryGair fitting perfectly in that world. It’s all about collecting data and integrating it with your climate control systems, that’s something DryGair is perfect for. Crop steering today is more accurate than ever. You can envision your end product, plan a route, and you’ll get there. I’m excited to help facilitate that.”

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