The grower of the future needs to understand both plants and technology

The North American greenhouse industry continues to develop rapidly. Greenhouses are becoming larger, more advanced and increasingly automated. But while technology is changing the way crops are grown, finding the right people to manage these sophisticated operations remains a challenge. For Frans Neijenhuis, founder of High-Tech Growers Recruitment (HTG), this is something he sees regularly when searching internationally for growers and greenhouse professionals.

“The demand is still very much for people with strong growing knowledge,” Frans explains. “Technology can support a grower enormously, but you still need someone who understands the plant. At the same time, the profile is changing. A modern grower also needs to understand climate computers, irrigation, lighting, data and increasingly automation and AI.”

Growing knowledge remains essential
According to Frans, automation does not mean that experienced growers become less important. “In some ways, the opposite is happening. Greenhouse companies are investing heavily in technology, and they need people who know how to get the maximum out of those investments. Technology provides growers with more information and more control, but someone still has to understand what is happening with the crop and make the right decisions.”

This combination makes recruitment challenging. Experienced Growers, Head Growers and Production Managers increasingly need to combine horticultural knowledge with technical skills, data analysis and people management.

Looking beyond national borders
For specialized positions, Frans believes North American greenhouse companies increasingly need to look beyond their own region, and sometimes beyond their own country. “The perfect candidate may not live within 50 kilometers of the greenhouse. Sometimes they are on the other side of the world. There is a relatively small international group of people with the combination of crop knowledge, technical experience and management skills that modern greenhouse companies are looking for.”

This is exactly why HTG operates worldwide. From its base in the Netherlands, the company recruits internationally, with North America and Europe as important markets, while also working with greenhouse companies and professionals in other parts of the world.

“Greenhouse horticulture has become a truly international industry. Knowledge developed in the Netherlands, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Spain or elsewhere can be extremely valuable to a greenhouse company on the other side of the world.”

An industry that deserves more attention
Frans also believes that the greenhouse industry has an opportunity to become more attractive to a new generation of professionals. “When young people think about technology, data or AI, horticulture is probably not the first industry that comes to mind. But when you walk into a modern greenhouse, you see a completely different picture. It is a highly technical and innovative environment with excellent international career opportunities.”

In October, Frans will be in North America for the Canadian Greenhouse Conference in Niagara Falls, where High-Tech Growers Recruitment will exhibit at booth 123A. “I’m looking forward to talking with greenhouse companies about the people they need for the future, but also to meeting growers and other professionals who are curious about where their experience could take them internationally.”

For more information:
High-Tech Growers Recruitment
Frans Neijenhuis
[email protected]
www.htg-recruitment.com