The well-known polder, that piece of low-lying land reclaimed from the sea or a river and protected by dikes, especially in the Netherlands, otherwise crucial for good potato growing, gave the Dutch farmer Pieter Klaas Westerhuis from Usquert in Groningen his steadfast revelation: “We don’t want to leave any problems behind for the next generation to solve.”

The family business of Pieter Klaas Westerhuis existed for over two centuries. He is the sixth generation on the farm and has been growing seed potatoes since 1993 on one of the largest Wadden areas in The Netherlands.

The knowledge and passion for arable farming have been passed on again and again and the next generation is now ready. His son Pieter joined the family business last year. Both are convinced of the importance of healthy soil. And Pieter Klaas loves to share his knowledge, experience, and vision of seed potato growing and sustainability.

“The soil here is made of clay; it is full of clay particles. That’s logical because this land is and always will be a polder. Many years of experience have given us a deep understanding of ‘our’ soil. This knowledge also means knowing which potato varieties are ideal for the soil,” Pieter Klaas recently declared to HZPC

Together with Garco van der Berg, field employee at HZPC, Pieter Klaas regularly discusses which varieties to grow. Besides Vivaldi and Innovator, they have been growing the varieties Memphis and La Vie for the past few years.

“It is important that we do this together. Garco has the knowledge from the network at HZPC and knows very well what the market demands. The combination of these varieties with the healthy soil in which we grow them ensures a good resistance level; the potatoes are less sensitive to viruses, bacteria, and Phytophthora. Also, the yield is high”, Pieter Klaas added.

Invest in Innovation and Collaboration With the Soil Experts

According to HZPC’s sustainability team, the company’s seed potatoes can make a difference in the world: “With seed potatoes from our growers, farmers worldwide can produce healthy food locally. That is why we invest in innovation and collaboration with the soil experts: our growers. Innovation and cooperation lead to new products and services with which we stimulate the development of responsible food for the world population.”

Together with an advisor from Delphy, Pieter Klaas constantly investigates the quality of the soil. They look at the presence of organic matter, chalk, and the pH level, among other things. Based on this research, they draw up a fertilization plan. This allows them to ensure that the soil is capable of supplying the right nutrients.

“In our family business, as well as looking at the next harvest, we always look to the long term. We look for the right balance between an economically good result and continuity. We take good care of our buildings and machinery, take good care of ourselves, and take good care of the place where our sustainable food grows: the soil. We leave no problems behind for the next generation to solve. In this way, we not only realize an income for ourselves, but we also ensure that the next generation of growers can earn a good living too; it’s a social return. A healthy future starts in the ground,” Klaas concluded.