Innovation and Knowledge Transfer in the Dutch Horticultural System

The horticultural industry is an important economic sector in the Netherlands. Internationally, the sector has a leading position in vegetables, fruits, ornamentals, flower bulbs and trees. Within these product groups long-lasting experience in breeding and production is combined with extensive industrial activities in support, logistics and services. The strong position of the Dutch horticultural industry is founded on an intensive interaction between governmental research institutions and private companies. Over the past fifty years, the high quality of plant sciences has been a continuous resource for innovations. In this paper we describe and analyse the success factors of Dutch horticulture, with an emphasis on the organization of knowledge transfer.