With the changing climate, the benefits of working with growing support facilities (GSFs) are increasingly coming under scrutiny. While discussions about biodiversity, costs, legislation, and permitting continue, it appears that GSFs are becoming indispensable for growers. Marc Lodders (Lodders Boomkwekerijen), Corné Leenaerts (Boomkwekerij Leenaerts-Halters & Zn), and Marco Braspenning (Braspenning & Co) discuss the current state of affairs.

Author: Ralf Pijnenburg

Using growing support facilities, growers aim for controlled production conditions, allowing them to extend the growing season and improve product quality. Additionally, this method of production is less harmful to the environment due to the reduced need for crop protection products. Cultivating with support facilities aligns well with current legislation, which is increasingly imposing stricter sustainability requirements. For this reason, the importance of GSFs is only expected to increase, according to tree grower Marc Lodders, who also serves as a board member of Treeport. Lodders Boomkwekerijen grows forest and hedge plants in open fields. “Producing using traditional methods in the ground will become increasingly difficult due to legislation,” says Lodders. “So, for the first cultivation phase, you will need to look for solutions above ground. However, this is significantly more expensive, which acts as a barrier for many growers to invest in this method. Additionally, I sense a certain reluctance in our industry towards this unfamiliar way of growing, even though I believe there’s no turning back.”

The tree grower does require consistent government policies with uniform rules while ensuring tailored solutions at the local level. Effective regulations with actionable prospects can help entrepreneurs tackle all challenges. “Currently, we see that the rules differ from one municipality to another,” he notes. “This makes it harder for growers to know where they stand. As a result, it’s not possible to use growing support facilities everywhere, which is justified in some cases. This is why it’s so important to provide tailored solutions.”

Risk diversification at Leenaerts-Halters & Zn

Tree nursery Leenaerts-Halters & Zn, based in Zundert, specialises in growing ornamental shrubs and roses in containers. The business, owned by Corné Leenaerts, also cultivates forest and hedge plants in open fields. “This part of the business also provides us with a bit of risk diversification,” he explains. “We’ve also experimented with growing forest and hedge plants in pots to extend the season. However, due to competition, we transitioned to ornamental cultivation for pot production.”

Growing with growing support facilities (GSF) has proven beneficial for him. “When I grow roses in a polytunnel or greenhouse, I need far fewer plant protection products,” he says. “Additionally, I save a lot of water. These are the two main advantages, which are also very welcomed by authorities like the water board. It ensures mindful water use and prevents nutrient runoff. Fertilisers no longer end up in surface water.” Leenaerts acknowledges that growing in open fields is cheaper, but he adds that weed control is also a significant cost factor. “The less stress a plant experiences, the less you have to deal with diseases or pests. With GSFs, you can create optimal conditions for your plants and avoid being dependent on weather influences.”

Leenaerts believes that working with growing support facilities is the way forward. “Legislation is imposing increasingly higher standards on, for example, the use of plant protection products and water,” he notes. “And I think these restrictions will only get stricter. So, it’s essential to start growing plants above ground, especially in their early stages.”

Another added benefit, according to the grower, is that GSFs makes it easier to automate your production process. “A lot of labour is involved in planting annual seedlings,” he explains. “By mechanising with a plug system, you can achieve significant gains. Under the right conditions, you can grow a uniform product that can then be easily planted in open fields by robots. This process is still in its infancy for forest and hedge plants.” Additionally, Leenaerts notes that other businesses are increasingly requesting him to grow plant material in 1.5-litre pots, which they then transplant into open fields in September to produce root ball plants. “This helps them reduce their spring labour peak,” says Leenaerts. “It’s slightly more expensive, but you can plant when it suits you best and aren’t reliant on the weather.”

Discussion about biodiversity

Leenaerts feels that from a climate perspective, it is better to work with GSFs. However, he does have his doubts about the potential loss of biodiversity. “As a grower, you do cover the ground with GSF solutions,” he says. “And what happens beneath the surface then? That’s a point of discussion in our industry. I’ve heard that research is currently being conducted on this topic. I’m very curious about the results.”

Marco Braspenning, owner of Braspenning & Co in Zundert, claims to have experience with such studies. He shares that he was recently visited by HAS green academy at his container fields. “They told me that soil life under my type of fields completely disappears. That’s what their research showed. And I can imagine that. To circulate water in our closed system, we work with a plastic substrate. But what the study didn’t take into account is that biodiversity recovers very quickly if you decide to clear the container fields. This could happen if a business activity ceases or if the land is repurposed. The lecturer from HAS acknowledged this as well. That should be included in the research, in my opinion. It’s only fair.” Furthermore, Braspenning believes it is possible to create additional biodiversity on container fields that is attractive to various organisms. “This happens because we capture and circulate water on our premises,” he explains. “Our fields are often wet and full of algae. Frogs and salamanders, among others, are drawn to this. Additionally, the channels we use for water drainage serve as breeding grounds.” Braspenning specialises in rhododendrons and azaleas but also grows many other types of garden plants in various pot sizes and variations. He argues that with his GSFs, he has better control over nutrition and crop protection than growers who work in open fields. “Although we irrigate more frequently, we prevent more leaching into the soil. And if we do discharge water, we are required to purify it. Moreover, a major advantage for us is that we can grow and deliver plants year-round.”

Three years ago, Braspenning acquired a plot of land where he plans to expand his business activities. However, the land currently has an agricultural zoning label. “ So I can’t do anything yet because the municipality needs to make a decision about the permits,” he says. “Why does this have to take so long? I understand that all the discussions surrounding GSFs make it difficult for municipalities to make decisions, but in the meantime, growers like me are being hindered in their entrepreneurship. And this issue isn’t unique to our region. The permit procedures for land use designations are far too lengthy and intensive.”

Despite these challenges, Braspenning is convinced that working with GSFs is ideal. “You can cultivate much more efficiently,” he says from experience. “Whether you’re growing strawberries or garden plants, you have much better control over quality and healthy, resilient plants. That’s why I believe the development of GSFs should be encouraged. It also reduces dependence on imports from abroad. We have an incredibly innovative industry, and it deserves to be cherished more. Together, we are a leading international player, and we should aim to keep it that way.” 

On behalf of trade fair GrootGroenPlus: David Bömer, chairman

“ With good growing support facilities, it becomes easier to cultivate high-quality and, above all, resilient plants in an environmentally friendly manner. At GGP 2025, you will find solutions and certainly also innovations.”