For almost 40 years , Theo van Neerven ran his own baby’s room . After present the last terrace and conservatory plants in September last year , he started work as an Energy Specialist at AgroEnergy . In this role , his passion for gardening and zip matters come together . In addition , Theo is proud of to be able-bodied to further avail the greenhouse horticulture in ' his ' region . " The vim passage is a major challenge for cultivator in Southeast Netherlands . It is significant to stay positive and await for the opportunities that do subsist . Together . "
Who is Theo van Neerven?“I am 61 year old and was born and elevate in Helenaveen , in East Brabant . I still inhabit here with my wife Lida . We have three children : Therry , 32 , Joshua , 30 , and Meggy , 27 .
In my spare time , I help Lida and my kid with chores in and around the planetary house , and I am also an greedy wheeler . A drive on the mountain wheel or road bike is an ideal way to clear your head . And to wield a healthy weight . For some prison term now , I also have a Zwift bike , an indoor motorcycle . I trail on it almost every morning . This way of life , I start the day fit . "
Horticulture is not unfamiliar to you . Did you mature up in this sector?“That ’s right field , I acquire up on an agrarian company . My grandparents started this in 1932 . Initially , it was a mixed farm with pigs and chicken , but subsequently the focus shifted to horticultural crop . In the late fifties , my founder built the first nursery and eventually focalise on love apple cultivation .
After studying at HAS , I worked for several years as a cultivation advisor at Grodan . When the question arose whether I wanted to join the folk occupation , I adjudicate to do so . Entrepreneurship attract me because of the exemption and the power to make your own choices . For the first four eld , we grow tomato plant , then eggplants . But I wanted to do something dissimilar from others . make a distinctive capableness was peculiarly crucial because at our placement , which was 1.2 hectare , we had no chance to dilate . This meant we could n’t stick to the trend of scaling up in veggie cultivation . Around the turn of the 100 , we switched to terrace and indoor garden plants . We focused on farm Cyperus and Mandeville . We did this for almost 25 age . "
In 2023 , you decided to lay off the baby’s room . Why this decision?“There were several reasons . We had no succession . Besides , Lida and I ran the company mostly together . If one of us were to drop out , the other could not keep the nursery alone . This made us think , especially since my father and grandfather both go bad young .
Additionally , labor and energy costs kept rising , and our income was increasingly under air pressure . To make the company futurity - proof , we would have to make significant investment . But we could n’t earn those back at our age . Furthermore , nursery gardening business sector in Helenaveen are hard to sell due to the placement near the De Peel nature reserve .
All this led us to decide two years ago to stop the byplay . In September last class , we delivered the last works . Was it difficult ? Not really , it was but the veracious decision . After we made the decision , I never doubt it again . “How did you finish up at AgroEnergy?“I posted a message on LinkedIn that we were stopping our nursery . I also mentioned that I was look for a novel challenge . In a inadequate fourth dimension , I had fifteen offers in my inbox . One of my contacts forwarded the subject matter to Rien Bot from AgroEnergy . He contacted me . To make a recollective narration poor : I had a conversation and ultimately chose AgroEnergy . This way , I could stay in the gardening sphere and engage with Department of Energy matters . I was always fascinated by that theme ; during my graduation research at HAS , I delved into alternate energy root for glasshouse horticulture . And energy was , of grade , an important focus at my own glasshouse . It ’s squeamish to now suggest former colleagues in this area . “What precisely do you do as an Energy Specialist?“I am a so - call new - style Energy Specialist . This means I do not place bidding on the Energy Department markets myself ; that is the task of the operators . I watch with them but mainly focus on corroborate customers in making pick for the future . I discuss vim matter with them and what steps they should take to save toll . Heat ticker are my specialty . I already turn over into them during my graduation exercise inquiry at HAS . And I have always find it an interesting twist . "
Are you mainly fighting in the Southeast Netherlands?“Yes , my customers are locate in the area to the south of the Waal , in East Brabant and Limburg . The energy transition is a major challenge for growers in the Southeast Netherlands . The enjoyment of geothermal Department of Energy is not possible here , and heat pump are hard to deploy due to grid congestion . enterpriser are in a very unmanageable position .
Nevertheless , I believe we should try opportunities , and positive thinking is of import . Contributing to a healthy futurity for greenhouse horticulture in the Southeast Netherlands ; that is my goal . To achieve this , more cooperation is need . Among raiser themselves , but also with gridiron operator , political science , and so on . presently , many party still mainly look after their own interests . Together , you’re able to get much further . “Do you feel at home within the company AgroEnergy?“Absolutely , I sense whole at place here . AgroEnergy is really a family . I amount in and feel at base directly . "
Do n’t you omit your own company?“No ; in principle , I am now also running my own companionship . Together with my confrere , I am responsible for AgroEnergy client in the Southeast Netherlands . I notice that entrepreneurs appreciate that I come from the sector ; I am one of them , and you understand each other .
To stay informed about what is happening in the sphere , I am also still a board member of Paletti Growers . This is a cooperative of ornamental growers in the Euregio Rhine - Meuse . So , I really have both foot in glasshouse horticulture . “For more information : AgroEnergy[email protected]https://www.agro - energy.nl/
