Image: foodlog & urgenda; peppers: PuraNatura

Founded 2007

To increase the relevance of sustainable horticulture and

its products by stimulating innovation

Supervisory Board

Maurice Wubben, Chairman, Philip van Antwerpen, Jim Grootscholte

Executive Board

Peter Jens, Chairman

Technical Team Today

Bram Klapwijk, Koppert Biological Systems

Hans de Vette, Van der Knaap Group

IFOAM Theoretical Principles

Health CARE

Ecology FAIRNESS

Fairness HEALTH

Care ECOLOGY

PuraNatura Practical Ranking

Health CARE

Ecology FAIRNESS

Fairness HEALTH

Care ECOLOGYCare and fairness reflect personal, political choices on how we want to live together. Health and ecology are “just” common sense, good science and hard work.

Protected Cropping

In any way, shape or form, an intensification of agriculture.

Crops are intensily fertilized, energized, watered, nourished, taken care of and recycled.

(Example: 42kg/m2 tomato needs 862N, 237P & 1.505 K/ha, 4x avg open field crop)

Organic Greenhouse:Protect the

crop?

Protect topsoil & limit inputs!

Hydroponic Production:- the method of growing plants with their roots in a mineral nutrient solution only or in an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel or mineral wool to which a nutrient solution is added

(Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008, Article 2 g)

✔

Noticed the difference?

The first 7-9 weeks EU organic certified transpants grow out-of-soil and 80% of plantvitality &-resilience is determined in this period.

EU regulations

The spirit of EU regulations is clear:

Soil ecosystems matter and it understandably prohibits hydroponics because “organic” is about organic matter,

hence its name.

But soil does not mean “earth” and the organic grower must have the choice and be allowed to protect the sub-soils!

Not just protect the crop…

EU regulations

The spirit of EU regulations is clear:

That is why with Protected Cropping the organic grower must have the choice to protect the sub-soils and the

environment.We believe that the cultivation of plants in an active growth medium with soil life above the sub-soil, not in it, can be and should be allowed. And in several Member States it IS allowed. The PuraNatura method is thus already in line with the spirit of EU legislation. And even follows the letter of the law, but, perhaps, not in The Netherlands

But as the NL Ministry states: “It’s the hydroponic definition that counts, not the exact term”. We have hope for clarification soon.

Suggestion no 1

EC communication: “While

prohibiting hydroponics

889/2008 allows organic growers to:

use active growth media with high organic content,

In or out-of-soils in order

to protect soils and

manage resources.

Wim Grootscholte

-video-

Mr. Wim Grootscholte, Grower

Greenhouse cultivation regulated?

Then…all –ideological- bets are off-

One simply cannot have the pie and eat it too!

High-touch

Low-tech High-tech

Low-touch

So IF indeed the EC decides Greenhouse cultivation merits

specific regulations, together we have to make it into the best

available agricultural practice to date, high-tech, low-tech, high-touch

and low-touch practitioners, all together.

No current organic grower has to be left behind…

Best way to lift…

Properly regulated Greenhouse Cultivation will lift the entire organic market into higher relevance. (But accept it for what it is!!!)

Do Organic Labels Drive Repeat Purchase Loyalty?

… results show that growth during this period is primarily driven by market penetration..

…that organic foods suffer in terms of repeat purchase loyalty, mainly due to lack of availability. Polymeros Chrysochou, Boyan Vassilev, Aarhus University

(more affordable products on the shelves)

purpose

PuraNatura method: 2 additional jobs per hectare x area growth = jobsMore young entrepreneurs to start Organic Greenhouse, even in cities Attractive and doable at any and all European Member States

Thanks to a ERDF co-finance grant we can develop our systems and demonstrate our societal added value.

purpose

Especially the ones not blessed by rich soils, or the ones that cannot afford to fiddle with the figures on area’s and nitrates and phosphates, or the ones that need to be extra careful with resources. Or the ones that want to grow within their urban communities and want grow on roofs of abandoned parking garages and supermarkets. They too should be part of the European Organic family. They will be the next generation of pioneers, the ones that will increase consumer interest, awareness and acceptation of organic produce.

Ours is the inclusive and participative type of organic. We want as many growers throughout the European Union to enter the system.

Suggestion no 2

• “EU Organic”: The organic based on similarities at product level and based on what we know now and can measure.

Suggestion no 2

• “EU Organic”: The organic based on similarities at product level and based on what we know now and can measure;

• “National or Private Organic” based on differences between growing methods, based on what one believes or wants;

make the exclusive good into the inclusive better,

then all ships will rise.Find here our observations on EGTOP Final Report