How can we keep working in horticulture enjoyable?

Added on 03 November 2022

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How can we keep working in horticulture enjoyable?

In the greenhouse of the future, simple, repetitive tasks will be performed by robots. But it's not that far yet: it's going step by step. In the coming decades, employees will work in an environment that is increasingly robotised, mechanized and digitalised. How can greenhouse horticulture – which is already having trouble finding employees – ensure that enough people want to work in and around the greenhouse?

The Business Unit Greenhouse Horticulture and Flower Bulbs of Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is starting the Joyride Horticulture project, in which good working conditions are sought for workers who work in the primary process. These are mainly migrant workers.

Migrant workers in the primary process

Much of the work in the primary process of a greenhouse horticulture company is carried out by migrant workers, who are also getting older and further along. They work in an increasingly warm and humid environment. Contact with colleagues is becoming less because machines have taken over part of the logistics operations: the employees are also less mobile in their work. In addition, these activities are becoming increasingly short-cycled. And by applying data, employees are increasingly assessed on personal performance , which also means that there is less room for mutual contacts.