This is how sustainable crop protection works in our greenhouses

Biological crop protection is becoming increasingly important within Dutch ornamental plant cultivation, and also at Bredefleur, this way of working has now found a permanent place in our cultivation. We choose to protect our lilies against pests in a natural way, so that the lily bulbs stay strong, the greenhouse is balanced and we build step by step on a more sustainable future for our sector.

Instead of chemicals, we use natural enemies to control pests. These insects help us keep the crop healthy in a smart and ecological way.
In Moerkapelle, we release about 3.2 million predatory mites and 40 million feeding mites every week to control thrips. Against aphids, we use 10,000 gall midges and 750 ladybugs per week.

In Luttelgeest, this is happening on a larger scale, with some 30,000 gall midges per week.
How it works is simple and at the same time very effective: the gall midge lays eggs on the lily plant and once the larvae hatch, they feed on aphids. This creates a natural balance in the greenhouse and chemical agents are hardly necessary.

An important part of our crop protection is scouting. Every week, our employees walk through the greenhouses to closely observe what is alive in the crop. We adjust our strategy accordingly. There are yellow sticky traps everywhere, which we use to see whether there is extra infiltration of insects from outside.

Monitoring is one of the most important factors for success: by properly observing and making timely adjustments, the biological system remains in balance and natural crop protection works optimally.

In addition to healthy cultivation, we also pay close attention to energy consumption. In our greenhouses, double energy cloths hang everywhere, with which we save extra energy and create a stable climate for the plants. This way we ensure less heat loss and a more efficient use of our energy resources.

Our sustainable approach does not stop at the greenhouse boundary. Bredefleur participates in a national project in which greenhouse horticulture companies are constructing biodiversity strips next to their greenhouses. These strips attract natural enemies such as bees, hoverflies and parasitic wasps.By combining this with our approach within the greenhouse, we strengthen the natural balance around our cultivation locations and contribute to more biodiversity in the Netherlands.

Organic crop protection is an important part of our sustainable way of working, but we go further. Among other things, we work with:

• A closed water system that uses only rainwater
  energy-efficient LED lighting
  thousands of solar panels generating green energy
• Our location in Luttelgeest runs entirely on geothermal heat. Thanks to this sustainable heat source, almost no gas is needed and we significantly reduce our CO₂ emissions
• certifications such as MPS A and MPS GAP

These measures ensure that our cultivation is not only efficient, but also future-proof.

At Bredefleur, we want to be more than a nursery. We want to be a company that works responsibly, consciously and future-oriented. We believe that the floriculture industry can grow with respect for people, nature and the environment.

Every improvement brings us closer to a sustainable and modern cultivation method. This way, our lilies not only grow into a beautiful product, but also contribute to a better sector and a healthier future.