Innovation and sustainable water management were firmly in the spotlight at GrootGroenPlus on Wednesday. At the trade fair, both Rabo Transition Tickets Transitie Tickets) and Water Vouchers  (Watervouchers) were presented to entrepreneurs working towards a future-proof tree nursery industry.

Support for innovative entrepreneurs
With the Rabo Transition Ticket, Rabobank supports entrepreneurs developing innovative solutions within the food transition, energy transition and circular economy. The ticket offers financial support of up to €5,000, complemented by guidance and access to a valuable network of experts and partners.

The contribution can be used for a wide range of next steps within an innovation project, such as developing a prototype, carrying out research, launching a pilot or bringing in specialist expertise.

The Rabo Transition Ticket is an initiative of Rabobank and various innovation partners in Zeeland and West Brabant, including ROOTZ. The programme helps entrepreneurs to further develop innovative ideas, contributing to a sustainable and future-proof economy. At GrootGroenPlus, Corné de Vooght and Peter Berben presented the Rabo Transition Ticket to DCM Stabican, represented by Jan de Vries. With the help of the ticket, DCM Stabican will research the effect of various organic fertilisers on the growth and formation of primary and secondary metabolites in Echinacea plants.

A focus on innovation in the green industry
ROOTZ looks at innovations that contribute to the future of the industry. These include:

• Robotics and automation
• Sustainable energy and energy saving
• Circular applications and the use of residual streams
• Soil and water management
• Bio-based materials and applications
• New and future-proof cultivation methods
• Research and innovation within the tree nursery industry

Water Vouchers for future-proof water management
In addition to the Rabo Transition Tickets, Water Vouchers were also presented. Through this scheme, Rabobank is offering ten Treeport and Fruitport businesses a company water plan. The aim of these water plans is to map the complete water cycle of the participating businesses and provide insight into both their current and future water needs. Particular attention is paid to challenges such as prolonged drought and changing climate conditions. Based on the results, entrepreneurs can explore targeted, future-proof investments in their water management. Once the project has been completed, the knowledge gained will be shared with all Treeport and Fruitport members, so that the entire sector can benefit. At the fair, the Water Voucher was presented to Van Dijck Youngplants, represented by Glenn van Dijck.

Building a sustainable future together
With both the Rabo Transition Tickets and the Water Vouchers, Rabobank, ROOTZ, Treeport and Fruitport underline the importance of innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship. By combining knowledge, funding and collaboration, entrepreneurs are given the opportunity to take concrete steps towards a future-proof green industry. More tickets will be presented to innovative entrepreneurs on Friday.

More information about the Rabo Transition Ticket is available at: https://bct-rootz.eu/rabo-transitie-ticket.