Certhon is a family business – what sparked the idea for the company and how achievable is your “growing anything anywhere” motto” when it comes to agriculture?

Certhon started over 125 years ago as a company focused on climate installations in order to control the growth of a plant and create ideal conditions. The core of our technology remains the same and is all about creating this perfect, safe climate. In addition to the climate systems, we also create irrigation, lighting and all other technical installations pertaining to a greenhouse or a growing environment. Growers around the world are very different from each other, so we create custom built solutions to fit their needs. We focus on a concept called “hypergrowing”, which is about how we can create more food and yield with fewer resources. 

The Netherlands is known for exporting horticulture solutions globally and Certhon as well has spread its reach far and wide – where are you seeing most demand coming from at the moment?

Demand for our solutions truly comes from all around the globe as Control Environment Agriculture is expanding and consumers keep demanding locally grown produce. We currently have projects in the U.S., Asia, and Europe, but that is growing especially thanks to partnerships with large companies such as the one we have with DENSO. Each country around the world is seeking solutions either to the climate question or the labor question. They have unique requirements we can cater to. For example, in areas with limited water access, our systems can be designed to use water more efficiently than traditional farming methods. In regions with minimal sunlight, artificial lighting can be utilized to provide the necessary.

One of Certhon's key strengths is our ability to provide a controlled environment for crop growth, enabling year-round production regardless of external weather conditions.

We utilize advanced climate control technologies to maintain optimal temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels for different crops, ensuring high nutritional values.

How did your partnership with DENSO come about and what are the specificities of the robot you have created together?

Together we have designed harvesting robots, in parallel with bonsai tomato plants which is a new cultivation system with smaller plants (they grow no higher than 40 cm). These can be moved to the robot instead of moving the robot to the plants and they harvest all tomatoes at once, which means we can save water and energy, in addition to the labor costs. This is an ideal match made in heaven, as in The Netherlands we have immense know-how on plants and greenhouse technologies, whereas DENSO brought to the table their automation and robotics expertise. These cultivation systems are also possible in traditional greenhouses, so it’s all about transferring across this proven technology. 

The labor component of growing is more than 30% of the total growing cost, so it is key to at least partially robotize it. Robots can also collect information while working, and data driven growing makes the industry more efficient. At the Certhon Innovation Centre, we research which growing recipes and systems work best to each plant. This is where we are creating the basis for higher yields, better quality, and more nutrients. And most important of all; the ability to control, predict and guarantee crop results.

What is the most powerful technique of reducing GHG emissions in agriculture?

I believe power lies in the combination of different methods and the marriage between “ag” and “tech”. For example, a greenhouse can reuse the energy waste of its neighbors or streamline water and heat usage through proper storage and light control. The war in Ukraine further accentuated the need to consume energy and raw materials wisely.

By implementing sustainable practices such as water-saving irrigation techniques, rainwater harvesting, and wastewater treatment and reuse, growers can conserve water and reduce their carbon footprint. Additionally, the use of renewable energy sources can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower energy costs.

There are fewer students in the field of agriculture than the industry needs – as Certhon keeps growing, how are you managing to attract talent?

As long as you tell the right story, you will always attract the right people. We now have around 150 people, many of whom are technical experts who love the kind of growing challenges we place in front of them. 

What is your vision for the CEA industry and goals you wish to achieve for Certhon?

We need more technological innovations to show the world that new growing systems can make the industry so much efficient, particularly with the help of robotics and automation. We are very excited about our own innovations, such as the hybrid greenhouse, the Gronos cultivation system for strawberries and tomatoes, JSKs, WKO's, and the Certhon Harvest Robot.

Advancements in technology and techniques have made it possible to grow a wider variety of crops in regions that were previously unsuitable for agriculture. Most importantly, we cannot do it all alone – we are looking to foster more successful collaborations such as the one we have with DENSO so that we can make our know how available to growers far and wide, and also accelerate the scale of our company.