to discover new things
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Now that I’m no longer CEO at Lely, I’ve got time to do new things. In the first place, of course, that means arranging the members of the Lely Supervisory Board. We’ve already found two members, and we’re looking for one more. It’s very enjoyable to talk to these people at the top of their profession, and to think about answers to matters such as, 'How are we going to work with the Lely Executive Board? How are we going to make sure that the speed and agility of this wonderful company is maintained? And: how do we guarantee that we carry on being an out-and-out family business?’
Dear Colleagues,
Sustainable food production
Besides our own Supervisory Board, I’m also a member of the supervisory board at two other family businesses, namely Bressers Metaal in Tilburg and Ridder Group in Harderwijk. Ridder Group is the market leader in technical solutions for horticulture, intensive livestock farming and crop preservation, and like Lely, the group’s objective is to make a contribution to sustainable food production. That’s exactly the assignment I see for myself in the coming years, together with Karel van den Berg, Lely innovator in heart and soul.
Exciting issues
Karel and I have already got together for the first few sessions. It’s always inspiring and enjoyable to think about new things. We’re not looking at concrete solutions yet; but still asking questions and analysing matters. ‘Is the livestock industry really as bad an environmental polluter as it’s portrayed in the European press? What is the real environmental impact of animal and vegetable proteins? Is the government’s measured method correct, with all the consequences it has on agriculture?’
We’re trying to find answers to these and many other questions, so we can discover trends. There are now 7 billion people in the world, and this number will grow to 10 billion by 2050. Population growth is then expected to slow down somewhat, and only grow another billion by 2100. Some think that if we all apply the 80/20 rule (80% vegetables and 20% meat & fish), the world food problem will be solved. In my opinion, studying these issues is really exciting!
Growth and accommodation
In addition to these long-term issues, I’m also supervising Marcel Knoesters’ team with the major investments in new Lely accommodation on the Lely Campus (Production & Lely Academy), in Pella (USA) and the new ‘Model Lely Center' in Heerenveen (NL)). In addition, Eduard Meijer and I are looking at promising, food-related startups in which we can invest.
So, in case anybody was worried: I'm definately not bored!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
to discover new things
Dear Colleagues,
Now that I’m no longer CEO at Lely, I’ve got time to do new things. In the first place, of course, that means arranging the members of the Lely Supervisory Board. We’ve already found two members, and we’re looking for one more. It’s very enjoyable to talk to these people at the top of their profession, and to think about answers to matters such as, 'How are we going to work with the Lely Executive Board? How are we going to make sure that the speed and agility of this wonderful company is maintained? And: how do we guarantee that we carry on being an out-and-out family business?’
Sustainable food production
Besides our own Supervisory Board, I’m also a member of the supervisory board at two other family businesses, namely Bressers Metaal in Tilburg and Ridder Group in Harderwijk. Ridder Group is the market leader in technical solutions for horticulture, intensive livestock farming and crop preservation, and like Lely, the group’s objective is to make a contribution to sustainable food production. That’s exactly the assignment I see for myself in the coming years, together with Karel van den Berg, Lely innovator in heart and soul.
Exciting issues
Karel and I have already got together for the first few sessions. It’s always inspiring and enjoyable to think about new things. We’re not looking at concrete solutions yet; but still asking questions and analysing matters. ‘Is the livestock industry really as bad an environmental polluter as it’s portrayed in the European press? What is the real environmental impact of animal and vegetable proteins? Is the government’s measured method correct, with all the consequences it has on agriculture?’
We’re trying to find answers to these and many other questions, so we can discover trends. There are now 7 billion people in the world, and this number will grow to 10 billion by 2050. Population growth is then expected to slow down somewhat, and only grow another billion by 2100. Some think that if we all apply the 80/20 rule (80% vegetables and 20% meat & fish), the world food problem will be solved. In my opinion, studying these issues is really exciting!
Growth and accommodation
In addition to these long-term issues, I’m also supervising Marcel Knoesters’ team with the major investments in new Lely accommodation on the Lely Campus (Production & Lely Academy), in Pella (USA) and the new ‘Model Lely Center' in Heerenveen (NL)). In addition, Eduard Meijer and I are looking at promising, food-related startups in which we can invest.
So, in case anybody was worried: I'm definately not bored!