"Robotization will play an important role in horticulture"
Added on 16 December 2021
HORTIBIZ DAILY: What's Certhon's working field?
THOM VAN DEN BERG: We, as Certhon, supply fresh food worldwide thanks to our turnkey greenhouse solutions. So, we do supply high-tech glass greenhouses all over the world.
HD: What are you displaying at Growtech 2021?
TB: At Growtech, we're displaying our latest innovations and turnkey projects that are build recently and among other things, we also show our new harvest robot that's able to harvest tomatoes in the greenhouses, completely on its own.
HD: What kind of innovations do you offer to your customers?
TB: Actually we offer the whole turnkey solutions. So starting from the construction of the greenhouse and inside the greenhouse we supply the irrigation system, heating system, climate computer also the lighting installation. When the greenhouse is in production, we're also able to provide agronomical support to our customers to make sure their project will be successful!
HD: In which way is Certhon an international company?
TB: Certhon is providing its greenhouse solutions all over the world. So that means we're internationally oriented. Certhon headquarters are located in Poeldijk, The Netherlands, in the heart of the horticulture. We do have over 150 employees and our partner DENSO have 170,000 employees worldwide. All together, we're working on greenhouse solutions and robotization. We have a very international focus on areas like Dubai, Russia, US, Canada and Kazakhstan.
HD: What are your expectations from Growtech?
TB: Our expectations are to meet existing customers and also to find new leads. We think Antalya, Turkey can be a meeting point also for the surrounding countries like Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan maybe Russia. We are here to meet new people and to see if there are new busines opportunities, new projects.
HD: When you consider the next 5 years, what do you expect in the horticultural industry?
TB: I think the focus on high-tech greenhouses will be higher because of legislations about food safety, for example; without pesticides. No mosquitos or any other insects may enter the greenhouse. There is another issue that I see when I look at our clients'. It becomes more and more difficult to do harvesting work and taking care of the crops with only people. So, robotization will play an important role in the greenhouse industry in future as well.
HD: Are you satisfied with your attendance to Growtech trade fair as Certhon?
TB: Yes! It's the first day of the fair. In the morning it was not as busy as in the afternoon, I think everyone woke up and came to visit the show. Actually we already had a chance to speak with people from Germany, Iran, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkey. So we've met a lot of people already and that's good. We should evaluate the whole fair experience to consider to attend next year but my first impression says we'll be here again.
HD: Do you have a message for the readers of Hortibiz Daily News?
TB: Of course. First, my best regards to Holland as I'm from Holland myself. I hope to meet everyone in the near future at trade fairs like this and also expecting them to visit us at Certhon office and our Certhon Innovation Centre!
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Tom van den Berg
Source: HortiBiz
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