new videoclip - sustainable growth

For every newsletter we publish a new videoclip on our HOA YouTube channel. Our newest video clip ‘sustainable growth’ gives insight into how the Holland Onion Association wants to contribute, through knowledge and science, to the search for solutions regarding the role the Read more »

farmland suitable for onions becoming scarce

Two thirds of the land area in the Netherlands is used for the agriculture and horticulture. Arable farming takes up a quarter of the farmland, while the cultivation of onions is playing an increasingly important part. Since the year 2000 the cultivation of the Holland Onion Read more »

Holland Onion reclaims podium place

After the harvest season of 2018, which was disastrous for the export, the Holland Onion is having a peak year again. The gross yield per ha has been provisionally calculated by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) at just over 53 (metric) tons per hectare. That is no less Read more »

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Sustainable growth carries two important meanings in this world. Historically, sustainable growth meant a realistically feasible economic growth that could be continued without problems. However, these days the term has a deeper meaning. It signifies a long-term economic growth that can be pursued without causing unacceptable waste and pollution or using non-renewable resources.

Looking at our Holland Onion, I see the important role our onion plays in the world. Of course as an indispensable ingredient in numerous dishes. But especially as a necessity of life for large groups of the world population. Keeping in mind the fact that in 2050 around 10 billion people will be walking the face of the earth and that the demand for onions will increase by roughly 60%, the Dutch onion chain faces great challenges.

The Dutch export chain certainly has the potential to grow to 2 million (metric) tons in the next decades. But as the demand for our Holland Onion increases, so does the pressure on the available agricultural land. To decrease this pressure, we will simply have to grow more onions per field. But without placing an additional burden on the environment.

So our knowledge institutes are working hard studying this issue. And a number of solutions are already being tested and put into practice in our trial fields. All of this can be seen in our newest video sustainable growth.

With pleasure!

Gijsbrecht Gunter
President