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Photo: ROBINUTRECHT/ imago images/Hollandse Hoogte
Rising energy prices are causing difficulties for many sectors – and by no means only industrial sectors.
Parts of agriculture are also dependent on the use of energy sources.
The situation is currently particularly dramatic in the greenhouse sector.
Dutch ornamental plant and flower growers fear for their future given the soaring energy costs for heating greenhouses.
More and more breeders have already announced that they will give up operations, file for bankruptcy – or at least temporarily interrupt work in the cold winter months, the marketing organization Royal Flora Holland announced on Friday.
If the gas price stays at the current high level for a longer period of time, the existence of the entire sector is at stake.
A shrinking of the production capacities would have consequences in the entire industry.
Flower supply is shrinking
Companies are willing to invest in the energy transition but need more government help.
Unfortunately, this is not in sight, according to Royal Flora Holland.
Within the agricultural sector, ornamental plant growing and floriculture is the largest export sector in the Netherlands.
Around 150,000 people are employed in this area.
Greenhouses are now threatened with vacancy.
Consumers have to adjust to the fact that there are fewer flowers to buy, the association of greenhouse growers, Glastuinbouw Nederland, told the newspaper De Telegraaf.
The supply will decrease by 35 to 40 percent, you will produce less.
A large breeding company, where the producers stock up on seeds, also reported to the newspaper that 30 to 50 percent of orders had been canceled.
Affected are flower varieties that have to be grown in the warm.
beb/dpa