World Horti Center to host 7th I-Grow Inside webinar focusing on private equity in horticulture

On Tuesday 16 April Dutch-based World Horti Center will host its seventh I-Grow Inside webinar, this time round discussing the pros and cons of private equity in horticulture and how these investments have shaped the horticultural landscape over the past decades. The event is free of charge.

In recent years, the number of private investments in the horticulture sector has increased. A panel of green professionals will try to answer questions such as: what does this mean for the industry? What are the benefits as well as the risks associated with these investments?

The panel will give more insight into their experience with this topic engaging with the audience.

What makes horticulture so appealing to private investors? The world population is expected to continue growing significantly in the coming decades. Due to this population growth, there is less and less land available for agriculture. Meanwhile, the number of mouths to feed is increasing, posing a food security challenge. Therefore, it is necessary to better utilise our available space, and high-tech greenhouses can contribute to the solution. In the coming years, a global expansion of greenhouse area of at least 25,000 hectares is expected.

Private investors bring various benefits. For example, a company can further develop and professionalise. Additionally, an investment, particularly from a foreign investor, provides access to other markets. Wilco Schoonderbeek, director investments at Horticoop, and Franc Bogovic, COO & Vice-Chairman of the executive committee at Finance & Invest Brussels. Franc specializes in investing in start-ups and scale-ups

Keynote speakers include Maarten Hermus, senior zone manager Horticulture & Food at Innovation Quarter, Wilco Schoonderbeek, director Investments at Horticoop, and Franc Bogovic, COO and vice-chairman of the executive committee at Finance & Invest Brussels.

The I-Grow Inside webinar on Tuesday 16 April can be followed online from 2.30pm CET to 3.30pm CET. Green professionals can also attend the webinar in person at the World Horti Center from  2pm CET to 5pm CET.

Please register via this link in case you want to join online or in person: www.worldhorticenter.nl/events/i-grow-inside-webinar.

This event is organised in association with Farming NL and powered by Greenport West-Holland and FarmTech Society.

The I-Grow Inside series is linked to the I-Grow Pavilion at the World Horti Center. This pavilion positions the Netherlands and its tech suppliers as frontrunners in indoor farming.