Pro Manager Mastercourse Floriculture is back in the Netherlands

The Pro Manager Mastercourse Floriculture is back in the Netherlands. Organisers Renée Snijders and Ed Smit from Jungle Talks have brought together a group of future leaders in floriculture between the ages of 25 up to 40.

The Pro Manager Mastercourse is a fortnight programme from 27 October until 5 November 2024. It combines educational farm tours, meetings and inspirational sessions from lead strategic partners, including Koppert, Logiqs, Viscon, Dümmen Orange, Klasmann-Deilmann, Chrysal, Bunnik Creations, Ledgnd, Floramedia, Greenhouse Sustainability, and Van Krimpen.

The Mastercourse allows horticultural professionals to connect with peers from around the globe, make new friends, and meet potential new business partners.

In addition, The Pro Manager Mastercourse organisers, Jungle Talks, team up with the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) for the annual award ‘Young International Grower of the Year‘. This award celebrates young entrepreneurial professionals between the ages of 25 up to 40 years old that are participating in the Pro Manager Mastercourse organised by Jungle Talks.

A shortlist of three finalists will be announced at this week’s Trade Fair Aalsmeer on Wednesday 6 November.

Over the next few weeks, the nominees will present their business ideas to a professional jury who will announce the final winner at the 2025 IPM Essen trade show in January 2025.

Last week, the group embarked on company tours in the Westland region. This week, the programme will bring the participants to the Aalsmeer region where they will visit the IFTF and Aalsmeer Trade Fair.

The Mastercourse focuses on economic, social and environmental  sustainability with the management of the participating companies discussing their corporate sustainability strategies with the ‘students’ during interactive sessions and workshops.

“We are very proud these leading companies and organisations work together to support and inspire this international group of young growers,’ says co-organiser Renee Snijders. “Jungle Talks will maintain and foster the contacts between participants, partners and supporters also after the Pro Manager Mastercourse, in order to make sure that all parties will make the most of this valuable cooperation.”

A new step in fostering these connections is the Mastercourse Meet Up. Its inaugural edition was held in Brazil last August. The Mastercourse Meet Up is a 5-day programme designed to encourage camaderie among former Mastercourse participants and explore floriculture in the host country.

“We plan to visit the Niagara region in Canada in September 2025,” says Ed Smit. Only Mastercourse alumni can participate in these Meet Ups, thus strengthening and expanding the alumni network in the coming years.

Participants in this year’s Mastercourse for Floriculture come from ten countries and include Thomas Reeves and Gabriela Walravens from Brazil, Bernardo Anaya from Mexico, David Marin, Ricardo Otero and David Penagos from Colombia, Baichong Zhang from China, Peter Ault from the USA, Nadia El Ashkar from Egypt, Bart Markus, Quinten Buijs and Cas Steenbergen from the Netherlands, Tomasz Dzwígoń from Poland, Stuart van Staalduinen from Canada and Maria Herrada from Spain.