Invitation

Dear member,

We are delighted to invite you to our Breeders & Distributors Conference, which will take place on 3 and 4 October 2023 in the Venlo/Eindhoven/Straelen area. This year's event combines a myriad of relevant topics with some high-level visits in both The Netherlands and Germany. Please find below further information on the programme and registration/hotel booking. We hope you will join us for this one of a kind conference!

Day 1 of the conference will be dedicated to Energy & Research. The programme will be kicked off in the hotel in Venlo with an information session ‘Energy Transition | Future Challenges and Solutions’, in which experts will update us on the current situation and challenges in the Dutch and German markets, followed by an open discussion on how to maintain our industry relevant to society in times of energy scarceness. At the end of the morning, we will go by coach to Eindhoven to visit Signify’s GrowWise Research Center where Plant Specialist Stefan van de Voort will update us on the most recent in's and out's of vertical farming. A presentation on robotica will complete the session. At the end of the afternoon, we return to Venlo to enjoy networking drinks and dinner in the hotel.

Day 2 of the programme focuses on production and trade. With apologies to any late sleepers, we will depart for Straelen (GE) by coach at 6.30 a.m. to visit Landgard, Germany's producers' cooperative and auction for flowers, plants, fruits and vegetables. After a short company introduction by Director Florian Hinrichs, we will visit the auction building and the adjacent Cash & Carry market. Impressions of the tour can be exchanged during a networking breakfast and the visit will be concluded by a presentation on the German market by Dr. Henning Krause, Director Grower Management.

We will hop on the coach for about 15 minutes and will then visit Europlant Canders, one of the largest producers of Calluna and home to the brand Beauty Ladies. Each year, 800 new crosses in Heather give rise to over 50.000 new seedlings. The best 1.000 plants are chosen and are further tested on the Canders test field. We will receive a company presentation of Europlant Canders, including the breeding history of their calluna varieties, followed by a visit to the greenhouses and trial field.We will hop on the coach for about 15 minutes and will then visit Europlant Canders, one of the largest producers of Calluna and home to the brand Beauty Ladies. Each year, 800 new crosses in Heather give rise to over 50.000 new seedlings. The best 1.000 plants are chosen and are further tested on the Canders test field. We will receive a company presentation of Europlant Canders, including the breeding history of their calluna varieties, followed by a visit to the greenhouses and trial field.

The afternoon will be spent at the German location of Fleuroselect member GASA. After lunch, we will receive a short company presentation by Jesper Holmgaard and Howard Perkmann whereas Lars Rose-Hansen will share his vision on consumer segmentation at GASA Young Plants. Finally, Jens Hermansen will update us on GASA's pioneering activities in dropshipping and e-commerce, followed by a visit to the distribution center. At 16 hrs, we will return to the hotel by coach, after which we will go our separate ways.

Special offer for young potentials

Young professionals are the future, they have new insights and can make a company future proof. That is why Fleuroselect has set up a new initiative to encourage our members to invite young potentials to our event. The first 35 registrations of a member younger than 35 years old will receive 35% discount on their participation fee. The discount only applies combined with a full registration.  After registering, please inform us by mail if you or your colleague qualify for this discount, we will then adapt the invoice accordingly. Who of your junior colleagues would be inspired by this year's programme? We are looking forward to welcoming them. 

Hotel

The Van der Valk Hotel in the Dutch town of Venlo is ideally located to visit both Eindhoven and Straelen/Kevelaer, and easy to reach via the A67/E34 motorway. The nearest airports are Eindhoven (NL)  and Düsseldorf (GE). In addition to well-appointed bedrooms, high-standard meeting facilities and an excellent restaurant, the hotel also disposes of a gym, sauna and indoor pool which guests can use free of charge. For this conference, we have made a block booking with a beneficial rate. Please see below how to reserve your room.

Programme

TUESDAY 3^RD OCTOBER | VENLO-EINDHOVEN    
Morning Session ‘Horticulture & Energy Transition’ | Hotel

10:00 hrs	Welcome
10:10 hrs	Information session: ‘Energy Transition | Future Challenges & Solutions’ Expert View The Netherlands | Erik Bax, Agro Advies Bureau  Expert View Germany | Michael Pippert, Dienstleistungszentrum Ländlicher Raum Rheinpfalz
10:50 hrs	Round Table Discussion ‘Energy Transition | How will horticulture remain relevant to society?’
11:20 hrs	End of morning session
11:30 hrs	Bus to Eindhoven

Afternoon session ‘Research & Vertical Farming’ | GrowWise Research Center, Signify, Eindhoven

12:30 hrs	Welcome & Lunch
13:30 hrs	Presentation ‘The advantages of vertical farming vs greenhouses’ Speaker: Stefan van de Voort, Plant Specialist Indoor Farming, Signify
14.30 hrs	Guided Tour GrowWise Research Center
15.15 hrs	Coffee break
15:45 hrs	Presentation 'Robotica' Speakers: Sjaak Bakker & Henk Jan van Ooijen,  ISO - Horti Innovators
16:30 hrs	Bus to Venlo
17:15 hrs	Arrival at hotel + check-in
18:00 hrs	Drinks
19:00 hrs	Dinner

WEDNESDAY 4^TH OCTOBER | STRAELEN-KEVELAER         

6:00 hrs	Check-out & smoothies
6:30 hrs	Bus Venlo – Straelen

Morning Visit 1 ‘Distribution: Landgard’

7:00 hrs	Welcome
7:15 hrs	Company Presentation Speaker: Florian Hinrichs, Director Blumen & Pflanzen Landgard
7:30 hrs	Visit to the Auction and Cash & Carry market
8:45 hrs	Networking Breakfast
9:30 hrs	Presentation ‘The German Market’ Speaker: Dr. Henning Krause, Director Grower Management Landgard
10:15 hrs	Bus to next visit, also in Straelen

Morning Visit 2 ‘Production: Europlant Canders’

10:45 hrs	Welcome & company presentation Speaker: Tom Canders, Europlant Canders
11:15 hrs	Coffee
11:40 hrs	Visit to trial field and/or production facilities
12:30 hrs	Bus to Kevelaer

Afternoon Visit  ‘Member Profile: Gasa Germany’

13:00 hrs	Welcome & sandwich lunch
13:40 hrs	Company presentation ‘Gasa Group & Gasa Germany’ Speaker: Jesper Holmgaard, Commercial Manager & Howard Perkmann
14:05 hrs	Presentation: Operationalising consumer segmentation in GASA Young Plants Speaker: Lars Rose-Hansen, Commercial Manager Young Plants
14:35 hrs	Presentation ‘Gasa Germany, pioneer in dropshipping & E-commerce’ Speaker: Jens Hermansen, Marketing Director Gasa Group
15:00 hrs	Guided Tour
16:00 hrs	Bus to hotel in Venlo
16:30 hrs	Departures

Rates and Registration

Conference
Members: EUR 325
Non-Members: EUR 425
First 35 registrations of a member younger than 35 years old: EUR 211 (35% discount)
Registrations for the Conference are taken via the online registration page on our website. 

Hotel
You can book a hotel room via telephone +31(0)77-3544141  or via e-mail venlo@valk.com with while mentioning following booking code VEN-GF22791. 
Please indicate your preferred room type and the number of nights you would like to stay.
The hotel will send you the confirmation and payment details. 

For bookings on 2 October 
- Deluxe room per room per night € 133.50 Breakfast included.

For bookings on 3rd October 
- Business room per room per night  € 118.50. Breakfast included. 
- Deluxe room per room per night € 123.50. Breakfast included.
- Superior room per room per night € 133.50. Breakfast included. 
- Superior Plus + lounge corner per room per night € 138.50. Breakfast included.

If you have any specific individual questions regarding your hotel booking, please contact Hotel van der Valk Venlo: +31 (0)77 354 41 41