On Thursday 20 November, the Federation of Fruit Vegetable Organisations (FVO) presented the results of the research Reward & Pricing (true value) into the social costs and revenues of the high-tech salads sector. The main conclusion is that greenhouse horticulture (salads) is transparent about its environmental costs of EUR 688 million and that efforts are being made to reduce the impact.
Fruit vegetable sector transparent about impact
This study put price tags on the environmental impact of greenhouse horticulture (vegetables) based on data from more than 300 vegetable production companies. In collaboration with CE Delft, for the first time this has been made transparent and expressed concretely in euros.
Ambition high-tech fruit vegetable sector
"We want to be not just a (climate) neutral sector, but one that demonstrably adds positive value," says Jelte van Kammen, FVO board member. "Our goal is to reduce social costs and increase benefits. That starts with understanding where we are now. With this approach, we make sustainability concrete, measurable and discussable. This is not an end point, but the starting point for the conversation about further sustainability. Sustainable initiatives in greenhouse horticulture deserve more visibility and appreciation. Together with our chain partners, we can take steps to further reduce costs."
"There is a bill, as in many other sectors, that is currently being paid by nature and future generations. We need to have the conversation together about that bill. Who picks up this bill? Is it just the producer or are there other parties that should join in? Thanks to the results of this project, we are able to enter into this important conversation and hopefully accelerate our sustainability transition," said Emile Stöver, project leader from FVO.
The meeting at the Malietoren in The Hague was dedicated to sharing research findings, dialogue and reflection. Berthe Brouwer (Natuur & Milieu), Imre ter Hedde (Lidl), Alex Datema (Rabobank) and Wilco de Lijster (Ministry LVVN) formed a Table of Advice. In four rounds of discussions, they gave their views on the social value of greenhouse horticulture. The main conclusions: greenhouse horticulture is showing courage by making exactly visible what their impact is, both positive and negative. These results make it possible to benchmark fairly, set realistic reduction targets and better substantiate investments.
The Advisory Table was impressed by the transparency and see the insights as a valuable basis to take the conversation about the future of the sector further at various decision-making tables. Banks, retailers, government and NGOs all expressed their desire to take further steps in the sustainability transition together with the sector.
Costs and benefits
The analysis reveals what the sector costs and benefits. On the benefit side, farms produce healthy food and greenhouse horticulture contributes to water purification, energy balance and space-efficient land use. The results show that because of intensive cultivation in the Netherlands, the production of tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers and aubergines compared to southern Spain saves about 167 km² of space every year. That corresponds to half of the Veluwe. On the cost side, it is mainly the use of fossil fuels (gas) and biomass for energy, and fertilisers as food for the plants that weigh down. Here, there are still steps the sector can take.
Three hundred vegetable growers work together in FVO
The Federation of Fruit Vegetable Organisations (FVO) is formed by five grower associations: Growers United, Harvest House, Oxin Growers, The Greenery and ZON. They are the largest growers' associations in the Netherlands with over 300 member vegetable producers of pepper, aubergine, courgette, cucumber and tomato. Together, they represent more than 85% of the salads produced in the Netherlands.