Puneet Varma (Editor)

Naktuinbouw

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit

Naktuinbouw (the Netherlands Inspection Service for Horticulture) is a Dutch centre with a primary focus based upon propagating material used in the horticultural sector. Naktuinbouw acts as a quality inspection service and as a research institute that performs research into varieties, pests and diseases.

Contents

Overview

Naktuinbouw shares its knowledge and expertise with the plant-based propagating material sector; directly to the stakeholders involved in the sector, and indirectly through national and international training courses and workshops. This information is also shared with institutes active in agricultural education. Naktuinbouw is based in Roelofarendsveen. Naktuinbouw is an Autonomous Public Authority (APA), with private law status), and is regulated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The duties performed by Naktuinbouw are based on the prescribed European Directives, the Netherlands Seeds and Planting Material Act and the Plant Diseases Act.

History

The foundations for the inspection services were laid in the late nineteenth century when a growing demand became apparent for safeguards regarding the quality of propagating material and seed. This need resulted in several inspection initiatives. In 1919 the Central Committee for the Inspection of Plants was established, followed by the Inspection Institute for Seeds and Planting Materials. Both organisations competed in their seed inspection activities. The establishment in 1932 of the Netherlands General Inspection Service for Agricultural Seeds and Seed Potatoes (NAK) signalled the end of the confusion. From then on, the inspection of agricultural crops was centralised. The first merger was between the then Netherlands General Inspection Service for Arboricultural Crops (NAKB) (1941) and the Netherlands General Inspection Service for Floricultural Crops (NAKS) (1947). This resulted in the creation of the NAKB. In 2000 the new NAKB and NAKG (the Netherlands General Inspection Service for Vegetable and Flower Seeds, 1941) merged to form the current Naktuinbouw.

Variety testing

The work of Varieties and Trials revolves around the identity of plant varieties. The DUS team tests varieties of all horticultural crops and agricultural crops for Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS). Testing for Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) of agricultural crops is monitored and the Dutch National List of varieties is kept updated. Growers can apply to have a new variety included in the Dutch National List or can request Plant breeders' rights. The Variety Testing department performs the tests for Plant Breeders' Rights for a wide range of crops on behalf of the Board for Plant Varieties in the Netherlands and the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) in France. The Variety Testing department also assists projects abroad in setting up Plant Breeders' Rights systems. China, Vietnam and Indonesia are a few examples of countries where support is provided.

Inspections

Naktuinbouw monitors the quality and health of propagating material. Naktuinbouw inspectors perform inspections of production sites, production processes, the propagating material and the documents required to trade and market the products. If all these aspects comply with the standards, the material may be traded. If the material does not meet the legal requirements, Naktuinbouw will ensure that the material does not enter the trade channels. Naktuinbouw's activities include quality inspections, plant passport inspections and phytosanitary import and export inspections.

Laboratories

The activities of Naktuinbouw Laboratories are performed on behalf of the Inspections department or for commercial propagators and growers. Naktuinbouw Laboratories is made up of the Health Test laboratory, the Seed Analysis laboratory, the Research & Development and Diagnoster departments and the Test Centre in Horst. Test methods are available for approximately 150 pests and diseases. Examples include seed analysis, health tests (viruses, fungi, bacteria and viroids), nematode detection tests, making the propagating material of woody crops and strawberries, in particular, virus-free and maintaining a collection of pre-basic material, namely of ornamental trees and fruit crops. Naktuinbouw Laboratories specialise in identifying varieties and pathogens, for example by using DNA techniques such as fingerprinting.

Training courses

Naktuinbouw offers various training courses and workshops specifically focussed on activities in the horticultural sector. Naktuinbouw develops new training courses and workshops with partners including Hogeschool Leiden, Wageningen UR Centre for Development Innovation en Breedwise.

Timeline

  • 2000: NAKB, NAKG and NAKS merge to form Naktuinbouw, operating in three sectors: arboricultural, floricultural and vegetable crops.
  • 2002: Naktuinbouw takes over responsibility for Plant Breeders' Rights testing for vegetable crops from the Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands (CGN).
  • 2006: Naktuinbouw takes over responsibility for Plant Breeders' Rights testing for agricultural crops and ornamental crops from Wageningen-UR.
  • 2007: Naktuinbouw starts performing phytosanitary import and export inspections, a task that was transferred from the Plant Protection Service of the Netherlands (PD).
  • 2009: On 1 April, Naktuinbouw opens the Variety Center in Roelofarendsveen. Activities including Plant Breeders' Rights testing for ornamental crops, which were transferred here from Wageningen.
  • 2012: Naktuinbouw has a new management team. Director Nico Koomen has retired, John van Ruiten becomes general manager. The new management team is formed by the heads of the departments Inspections, Laboratories, Variety Testing, Finance & Facilities and Knowledge & HRM

    • Events

  • Dozens of clay pipe-bowls were found in the soil at the site of Naktuinbouw's trial fields in the Googer Polder. Evidence of the amount of tobacco that was smoked in the past!
  • Naktuinbouw, together with SBW International and JHL, won the 2007 award for ‘Cooperation’ as part of the National Enterprise Awards.
  • Naktuinbouw finds tiger mosquitoes in lots of plants several times a year.
  • In 2006 Naktuinbouw and the University of Applied Sciences Leiden won the "Contract of the Week" nomination awarded by the television programme "Business Matters" for their teamwork on developing three training courses for laboratory technicians in the plant sector.
  • In 2007 Naktuinbouw started cooperating with the Flowerbulb Inspection Service (BKD) on Plant Breeders' Rights testing in flower bulbs.
  • In 2009 the launch of the national "Visit a Greenhouse" event took place at Naktuinbouw in Roelofarendsveen.
  • In 2010 the Dutch Accreditation Council (RvA) awarded Naktuinbouw accreditation for the performance of phytosanitary inspections.
  • In 2010 Naktuinbouw won the " Holiday Employer of the Year" award in the campaign organised by CNV Jongeren, part of the CNV trade union federation
  • 2011 signaled 25 years of Naktuinbouw acting as a measuring station for the KNMI.

    • Source:

    Partners

    Naktuinbouw's partners include:

  • Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority
  • Ministry of Economic Affairs
  • WUR
  • Board for Plant Varieties
  • CPVO (Community Plant Variety Office)
  • CGN (Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands)
  • EPPO (European Plant Protection Organisation)
  • European Union

    • Trivia

  • The team at NAKG knows so much about varieties that the members of the crop committee are referred to as the 'Walking Reference Collection'.

    • Source:

    References

    Naktuinbouw Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA