PROOF: Evidence through cooperation

Three separate organisations under one roof, as each partner is basically concerned with its own activity. The resulting co-innovation is a realistic spin-off. With pride, Luke van Adrichem (Metazet), Paul van Dijck (Harmoniz Netherlands) and Pim van Adrichem (HortiTech) show off the new location. 'All three of us were looking for a suitable place with the right facilities. That felt like looking for a needle in a haystack. It is therefore even better that we found what we were looking for on the Gantellaan in Honselersdijk,' says Luke van Adrichem of Metazet.

'We put our shoulders to the wheel and made the location absolutely perfect. The greenhouse is a realistic environment where we can carry out trials and the energy supply currently matches the need. With a good leg height of almost 6 metres, we simulate the growing environment of our growers. And we have divided that up into very small or slightly larger sections to be able to continue testing,' HortiTech's Pim van Adrichem adds.

Cooperation as spin-off
That the three companies can also find each other well in joint development soon became clear. Paul van Dijck of Harmoniz NL explains the optimal climate for that spin-off. 'The greenhouse layout is strictly separated. Half of it is used by Harmoniz NL in several departments for breeding and demonstration. Partly because of this, we have an increasing focus on high-tech horticulture. The other half is set up for cooperation between Metazet and HortiTech. We also strengthen each other in specific areas. That means we can test ideas against each other in confidence, think along with each other and work together.'

Creativity and responsiveness
Luke enthusiastically adds: ‘You can only stay ahead with distinctiveness, otherwise others will take over from you. And that requires creative thinking. That outlet for innovative creativity can be found under the PROOF banner. It feels like a playground and outlet for everyone's innovation and development drive. When a question arises from the market, ideas immediately start bubbling up. We pick up this open innovation in the confidential environment of PROOF and we deliberately don't involve everyone in this.'

That it is not the intention that everyone walks in the door at PROOF is reflected in the various developments. For instance, in the breeding of tomato varieties that consumers want on the shelves and that make the sector even better in a sustainable way. You also see it in the technical applications that can be devised, tested and proven under one roof. At PROOF, useful improvement and change for the sector is born. After all, technical know-how only has value if you can experience, test and prove it close by and in practice.

Breeding ground for horticulture
In the new premises, the beautifully designed central square is the condensation point where ideas and reality come together. There is sparring with the customer and with the partners who add value in innovation. The joining of forces in this incubator enables thinking beyond the horizon. ‘In this place, our knowledge and experience allows us to look beyond and come up with solutions that are approachable, practical and successful,’ Pim states.

Dot becomes a comma
Finding a suitable development location was like a dot on the horizon for HortiTech, Harmoniz NL and Metazet. With the opening of PROOF, that dot has become a comma and from there, trials will prove what the horticultural sector is capable of. In due time, the partners expect to have the right balance with each other and to live up to market expectations. By then, joint development and innovation processes will have been completed and products will be ready for the market to make noticeable strides in horticulture. And they are going to make that measurable to prove with PROOF.

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