This week’s article shifts focus away from cultivation and operations, and instead highlights a critical yet often overlooked factor in facility and horticultural business success.
“The collaboration with independent consultant”.
Over the past seven years, I have visited and advised multiple high-tech and mid-tech hydroponic leafy greens facilities worldwide. Based on these experiences, it is clear that working with an independent consultant is not only valuable but essential. A relatively small investment can significantly improve profitability and return on investment (ROI), while also helping avoid costly mistakes in early-stage decisions such as equipment selection and supplier choice.
Staying Up to Date with Technology
For growers, keeping pace with the latest technologies, data, and cultivation practices can be challenging. Independent consultants, through frequent interaction with research centers and industry suppliers, bridge the gap between innovation and practical application.
This ensures that growers remain informed about global developments and can implement up-to-date practices, tools, and techniques to stay competitive.
Access to Specialized Knowledge
Leafy greens represent a relatively small segment within horticulture, making it difficult to find highly targeted expertise. Publicly available information is often insufficient or unreliable for critical decision-making.
Independent consultants provide specialized, experience-based knowledge that helps address complex challenges. From selecting the right greenhouse equipment and cultivars to developing optimized nutrient strategies tailored to specific crops and regions.
Valuable Networking Opportunities
Consultants maintain strong connections with suppliers and growers operating in the similar market. This network becomes a powerful asset for clients.
For example, when selecting suitable cultivars for a region, a consultant can facilitate direct contact with breeding companies, enabling access to market insights, technical advice, and local distribution channels.
Training and Practical Workshops
Tailor-made training programs combined with hands-on workshops in real CEA facilities, particularly in the Netherlands and also abroad are becoming increasingly valuable.
These programs help growers and investors better understand technologies, avoid unnecessary costs, and make informed decisions before committing to large investments. The combination of theory and real-world application significantly enhances knowledge transfer.
Fresh Perspective Through Daily Observations
Growers working daily in the same environment can overlook critical issues. An independent consultant, even during a first visit, can identify problems such as nutrient deficiencies, tip-burn, bolting, or pest risks.
Similarly, operational aspects, climate strategy, airflow, light distribution, and irrigation practices can be quickly assessed and optimized to prevent or resolve challenges in real time.
Return on Investment (ROI)
The most compelling argument for consultancy is its impact on ROI.
Consider a basil production scenario where non-optimal conditions such as a 21°C – 24h temperature, 16-hour photoperiod, and light intensity of 180 μmol/m²/s limit plant performance. By adjusting temperature strategies to what basil can handle and increasing light intensity to 220–240 μmol/m²/s, production output can improve significantly.
Such optimizations can lead to approximately a 15-25% increase in yield and annual revenue per square meter.
In this context, investing €10,000–€20,000 annually in services covering several on-site visits and continuous remote support becomes a highly cost-effective strategy. It not only boosts revenue but also reduces risk and operational inefficiencies.
On the other hand, when investing in a new CEA Leafy Greens facility, involving an expert from the initial concept development who can guide the whole process with confidence can lead to significant (Capex) cost reduction and risk decrease which in some cases can be millions of euros.
Conclusion
Working with an independent consultant provides growers and investors with access to expertise, innovation, and networks that are otherwise difficult to obtain. In a competitive and technically demanding industry like CEA Leafy Greens, this collaboration is no longer optional it is a strategic necessity.
