Strengthening companies' own responsibility

The cooperation between the business sector and Naktuinbouw is clearly reflected in the accreditation systems we develop. The set up of these systems allows companies to take more responsibility by performing inspections, sampling, testing and research themselves. Naktuinbouw’s role is to monitor and surprise the quality of these tasks.

In 2024, we took steps to anchor accreditation systems more firmly in supervision. This was motivated by the fact that in the coming years an increasing shift will take place from inspections performed by Naktuinbouw to internal, company safeguarded quality inspections of the plant material. The companies use the accreditation systems developed by Naktuinbouw for this purpose. Naktuinbouw monitors the companies by auditing the system requirements, for example. This is part of our response to changes in the horticultural sector: increasing the independence and responsibility of companies, while accredited quality and inspection systems continue to ensure reliability and transparency in the supply chain. This line of action promotes flexibility, knowledge development and cooperation in the sector. The key advantage of this approach is a stronger and more robust supervisory system.

Knowledge platform on the usefulness and necessity of company accreditation

In November 2024 we organised a knowledge platform on the usefulness and necessity of the development of accreditation systems. What is the ideal balance in the cooperation? Who does what? And what is the role of Naktuinbouw? This development was explained from various perspectives, including examples of how it is already being applied in our sector. One example is the NAL system that permits companies to issue quality certificates with the product under supervision. Performing field inspections (NAFI) and sampling (BOOT) under supervision are other examples of accreditation systems.

New hygiene system for plant growers

In 2024, we developed ‘Hygiene System Plant Cultivation’ (HSPO) together with Plantum and plant growers. New plant diseases regularly emerge, which have to be managed and controlled. However, it is far better to proactively prevent the introduction of these new plant diseases as much as possible. The need for a practical and affordable hygiene system for plant growers in has increased in recent years. Although these companies already devote a lot of attention to hygiene and quality assurance in practice, this was not yet safeguarded in a measurable and testable system.

HSPO is a system that helps companies to safeguard the health and quality of the propagation material. This reduces the risk of spreading diseases and the system also boosts the image and export position of the growers. HSPO aligns with Naktuinbouw's inspection system for the quality, identity and health of plant material. It has a basic design and can be adapted and improved based on the experiences and developments in the sector.

Collaborating on good, healthy and reliable plant material

Naktuinbouw and growers share the same principles: together our ambition is to promote and monitor the quality and health of plant material, so that every horticultural entrepreneur in the world has access to good, healthy and reliable plant material. The system is strengthened as companies also take their own for quality.