P .2 System Boundaries Creating the Library As a first step prior to assembling a list of crops and livestock, we conducted a quick analysis of conditions in the Dutch food market. This gave us a better idea of which products are valuable and in relatively short supply in the Netherlands. Some extremely profitable crops have limited or saturated markets, which is something we wanted to be aware of. However, we did not take the results of the market scan very strictly, since the Polydome greenhouse is meant to perform in a very different context than that of most growers who mass-produce for the global export market. With local food production as a primary goal, the market constraints are somewhat different; in many regards, it is more appropriate to focus on local dietary preferences. The Dutch Market Fruits and Vegetables The Dutch horticulture sector is extremely developed and one of the largest in the world. Even so, we found that the majority of fruits consumed within the Netherlands, 80%, are imported.1 This indicates an opportunity for the expansion of the local fruit production market. Decreasing the length of supply chains and removing the cost of import tariffs can provide an opportunity for extra earnings in this sector. The most popular fruits consumed within the Netherlands are apples, oranges, and bananas, accounting for 2/3rds of total fruit consumption. The sales of strawberries, kiwi fruit, pears, and pineapples are increasing strongly.2 In terms of domestic production, apples and pears are the most commonly cultivated fruits in the country, followed by strawberries and soft summer fruit. A majority of the output is exported to Germany. In the vegetable sector, the situation is reversed relative to the fruit sector, with 85% of domestic vegetable consumption coming from homegrown sources. However, most domestic vegetable production is concentrated on a few key products. The greenhouse sector is dominated by tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, radishes, and eggplants while the field crop sector is focused on onions, carrots, leeks, and brussels sprouts. Approximately two-thirds of fruits and vegetables are exported. Current vegetable production is three times higher than local demand because of this export-oriented production focus.3 Many export statistics are complicated by the Netherlands’ status as a major shipping hub; re-exports are often combined with domestically produced exports. Mushrooms The Netherlands is one of the three largest mushroom producers in the world. Over 75% of mushrooms consumed in the Netherlands are fresh, which means that imports are unlikely to affect the domestic market due to rapid spoilage. In 2005, the Netherlands produced 250.000 tons of mushrooms a year, with roughly 2/3rds destined for industrial uses. Herbs and Spices Production of spices and herbs is limited in the Netherlands. Developing countries supplied 75% of the import volume in 2008. The Netherlands imports an estimated average of 1.500 tons of dried herbs per year. Over 77% of the herb imports consist of sage, oregano, marjoram, mint, thyme, and rosemary. Domestic production 3 CBI Market info, “The Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Market in the Netherlands.” 2008. 1 Mattas, K., Baourakis G. Supply chain analysis of the fruit and vegetable market in The EU (Case studies for The Netherlands and Germany) p. 33 2 Facts and figures of the Dutch Agri-sector, 2008 56 Pagina 55
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