Cultivating Tomorrow's Tomatoes: A Conversation with Paul Zantman and Robert Prins on research and innovation.

Here we meet Robert and Paul, both from a rich background in horticulture. They share their stories about collaborating with a research center, growing crops, and the role of technology. Their journey unfolds in the conversation below, revealing the challenges of running a greenhouse dedicated to innovation and research.

Robert, born into a family rooted in tomato cultivation, and Paul (founder BraZander), with a 15-year history of growing bell peppers, found themselves entwined in the world of tomatoes, thanks to a serendipitous encounter with Bayer De Ruiter Research Experience Center. De Ruiter is located next to BraZander close to Berkel en Rodenrijs. In 2001 BraZander was founded and started with mainly growing a variety of bell peppers. De Ruiter was in search of a demo center which was eventually set up together with BraZander.

In the midst of our conversation with Paul and Robert the lights in the greenhouse were dimmed and we almost sat in the dark. Up until then our interview was lighted with the typical purple color of LED-lights coming from the greenhouse adjacent to the meeting room.

They explained that they are one of the growers in the area that is on standby. Which means that if there is too much power on the grid, the e-boilers at BraZander are used for this overcapacity. This also gives them the opportunity to heat their own greenhouses in a sustainable and cost-effective way. After about 30 minutes, the lights came back on.

Initially, their greenhouses were exclusively filled with tomatoes, but a year and a half ago, they embraced the challenge of incorporating cucumbers into their repertoire. The conversation teaches us about the diverse nature of horticulture, explained by Robert, who emphasizes the joy derived from working with plants, people, and technology. This passion is deeply rooted, as Robert belongs to the third generation of a family of growers. Paul, who initially ventured into the world of cultivation through a job of picking tomatoes at the age of 14, reflects on the dynamic nature of horticulture and its unique charm—early starts, collaboration with people, and the complicated interaction with plants and technology. Paul and Robert found each other not only as colleagues but also as fellow Berkelaren. 

At BraZander they make use of several Priva systems; climate control, irrigation, disinfection, and energy management. The two Priva PIM systems, provide real-time insight into plant water uptake and evaporation. Robert occasionally tweaks these setpoints manually, guided by his intuitive assessment of greenhouse water levels.

Whereupon the intricacies of growing cucumbers, emphasizing the plant's sensitivity to climate and water management are discussed. Paul sheds light on the challenges, especially with cucumbers, which differ significantly from tomatoes. The conversation touches upon the role of LED lighting in BraZander’s greenhouses, revealing a journey from experimentation to a hybrid system. Paul highlights the meticulous selection of light spectrum for cucumber growth, acknowledging the potential pitfalls of LED implementation due to a lack of experience with the fairly new LED lighting. Next to the light, all the water BraZander uses is disinfected by the Priva Vialux-Line. This system disinfects water with UV-C light, destroying all existing pathogens like fungi, bacteria and viruses. Paul and Robert strongly highlight the importance of this system since tomatoes and cucumbers are quite sensitive to diseases.  

Paul elaborates on their ongoing tests, such as using a harvest robot. To stay up to date with horticultural innovation, they both keep up by reading whatever they can. Additionally, Robert occasionally travels to the Middle East to get new insights into crop cultivation in extreme heat. Both Paul and Robert underscore the significance of connecting with growers globally as a means to tackle future challenges in horticulture.

We spoke about their perspective on the evolving landscape of energy management within horticulture, touching on topics like the integration of data centers' excess heat, geothermal energy, and the promise of green hydrogen as a clean energy source. At BraZander they use the waste heat from the Botlek industrial area and the Rijnmond waste disposal site, explains Paul. 

"But if you’d take this a step further, horticulture can become an energy producer. You can actually harvest heat quite easily. So, we are kind of a heat collector. Maybe in the future we can be perceived as heat producers even," envisions Robert.

BraZander, adjacent to Bayer De Ruiter Research Experience Center, embodies horticultural innovation. Originating from bell peppers, BraZander evolved into a hub for tomato and cucumber research, expressing a commitment to continuous improvement. The unexpected power surge, in which Brazander relieves the power grid by responding, is a consequence of BraZander’s role as an energy standby, and unveils their dedication to sustainable practices.