News » 28.11.2025 - "The quality of your people matters even more than the quality of your seeds or substrates"
"We all know the aeration motor needs lubrication and the CHP unit needs its annual service. However, where most of a company's money and time are really spent, and what determines the final result most, is people. Yet we invest surprisingly little in them," says Peter Klapwijk of 2Harvest. It's not just about making work more enjoyable, he adds, it's also good business. "It pays off. The last ten to twenty percent of your yield lies in labor. Paying attention to that is better for your people, better for yourself, and it makes work and life more rewarding."
Labor as an investment, not a cost
Across the world, labor is cited as one of the biggest challenges in horticulture: availability, quality, and cost are all under pressure. But Peter believes that perspective needs to change. "We shouldn't see labor as an expense, but as an opportunity, an investment. By improving work quality, you can raise both yield and product quality."
Even when labor shortages aren't yet a problem, he says, businesses should anticipate what's coming. "Demographics are clear: fewer young people are entering the workforce at every level. To stay competitive as an employer, you need to offer a place where people can learn, grow, and build a career. Investing in the education of your people and their careers will benefit the crop, the people, and the company. That makes it a no-brainer."
It's a topic relevant to all growers and in all markets. "The importance of quality in propagation is inexplicable since it is of such importance for the final results of a grower. But also in production crops, people can really make a difference."
Bigger companies, bigger responsibility
Peter experienced this firsthand when his own nursery grew to five hectares in the early 1990s. "Suddenly, we had foremen and a management team, which was a big adjustment. Later, when I combined growing with consultancy, it became even more important to trust the people working for me."
That trend continues today. "Companies are getting larger, twenty employees become a hundred, and a hundred become two hundred. In the past, staff would work alongside you and learn directly. That's no longer possible. As technology and complexity increase, human interaction becomes even more crucial."
Training often focuses on systems and software, he notes, "but less on how we treat each other, how to keep a good atmosphere, how to instruct or motivate someone. That's where attention is still lacking."
The human factor in horticulture
"The quality of your people matters even more than the quality of your seeds or substrates," says Peter. "If the seed isn't good, I can sow more or buy another batch. If the substrate is wrong, I can replace it or adjust irrigation. But if your people aren't right, that's far more complex and has a much bigger impact on results.
"In a healthy crop, you can see up to 30% variation between plants. You see the same in teams: motivation makes a huge difference. Being smart in business means giving as much love and attention to your people as you do to your plants."
In horticulture, labor discussions tend to focus on availability, regulation, or registration. "We monitor, count, and control, but we often forget to celebrate what goes well. It's just as important to show how rewarding it is to do things right. There's huge untapped potential in labor."
Lessons from the field
Peter's philosophy is shaped by decades of experience: as a grower, business owner, intuitive coach, and international consultant. He recalls a U.S. greenhouse where he was asked to coach the labor managers. "In one session, I showed how the number of leaves per plant could make up to a 15% difference in yield. A broken plant tip meant a three-week delay. We quantified everything: plant spacing, uniformity, results."
Later, team members proudly showed him their progress. "'Look, aren't the heads hanging evenly now?' they'd say. They had become aware that their work directly influenced the company's success. It wasn't just a job to finish, it mattered."
Recognition, he adds, should go beyond words. "Attach a financial reward to it and you really empower people."
The return on attention
An extra cost? Not really, Peter argues. "Horticulture is built on efficiency: 'don't talk, just do.' Hard work and frugality earn the first profit, yes. But if you invest just fifty cents per meter in your colleagues, you can gain three euros in return. To grow efficiently, well-trained and motivated people are an absolute must."
That's partly because recruitment and onboarding costs are high, but also because employees are your true connection to the company. "We're full of protocols and procedures, but your employees are the real eyes and ears of your business, and often the ones with the best ideas for improvement."
When Peter combined consultancy with running his nursery, he made both performance and quality transparent, and linked rewards to them, individually and by team. "Over time, I was away more often, and performance actually improved. That's when you know you've built something strong."
Make it visible, make it measurable
"It's something we all know in theory, but we're not always aware of what we can do ourselves," Peter concludes. His advice: "Make things measurable and visible. If you're unsure whether to break or cut leaves, test a section and see what works best. Not just in time, but also in yield."
He recalls comparing a new tomato hook that rolled more smoothly to the standard one. "At the end of the season, yield was higher because the plants were lowered more gently. You only discover that by measuring and making it visible. Talk about it with your team and make them responsible, also financially. Because if you can't share it, you'll never multiply it."
This blog was written in collaboration with Paskal Group. The company specializes in greenhouse supplies and cultivation support systems. Quality is at the heart of their production, as they believe this is the only route to optimal productivity and growth.
Source: www.floraldaily.com
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