Drenthe growers claim to have produced “world’s most sustainable” lily bulb

Lily growers in Drenthe claim to have cultivated “the most sustainable lily bulb in the world.” Olympic speed-skating champion Irene Schouten presented the bulb on Thursday, which, according to the growers, has been produced in an equally environmentally friendly way as consumer crops such as potatoes, onions, and sugar beets. In Drenthe, there is an ongoing debate about the use of pesticides in bulb cultivation.

“Trials showed that we can use, on average, 50 percent less protective chemicals, with some cases reaching as much as 90 percent,” said grower Gert Veninga. The knowledge and research center HLB, which conducted measurements during the experiments, confirmed this. The province of Drenthe called the results “very positive.”

The bulb growers have looked into ways to organize cultivation with minimal impact on nature and public health. This can be achieved mainly by properly managing the soil and selecting “strong” varieties that are less susceptible to diseases.

“This turns the system around,” said HLB director Janny Peltjes. “Instead of chemically protecting the lily against everything that could harm the plant at all times, the growers now intervene only when it is absolutely necessary.”

Bulb cultivation is a sensitive issue in the local politics in Drenthe. Activists protest at every provincial council meeting, calling for “pesticide-free” bulb farming. Residents near lily fields are concerned about the use of crop protection products and their potential effects.

The province wants lily growers to use as few chemicals by 2028 as arable farmers do. Growers must demonstrate that their practices have no “significant effects” on nature; otherwise, a permit will be required.

In recent years, bulb growers have experimented on a small scale with a new approach. “We try to keep the soil as healthy as possible, for example, by growing certain crops before planting lily bulbs,” said Veninga. “The fewer harmful organisms in the soil, the better the soil can nourish the plants.”

The growers have also looked at which of the hundreds of varieties are the most “resilient.” “In the past, we grew the flowers that consumers demanded. Now we aim to cultivate strong varieties with the same environmental impact as other agricultural crops. Hopefully, this will help ease the sharp edges of the polarization surrounding this issue.”