Meet Arien van Viet, the owner and director of Van Vliet Antúrios, a family business in Brazil that specializes in producing Anthurium pot plants and young plants. Arien’s story is one that showcases a deep-rooted connection to agriculture and a commitment to sustainability in the floral industry.
Arien comes from a long line of Dutch descendants and was born in Brazil, where he currently resides in Holambra, SP. He is an agronomical engineer by profession and lives on the family’s farm, where he represents the third generation of the Van Vliet family business. His journey into the world of agriculture began at a young age, as he used to accompany his father to work. After completing his education, Arien officially joined the family business in 2005.
Van Vliet Antúrios is renowned for its production of Anthurium pot plants and young plants, having been in partnership with Anthura since 1994. In 2018, Arien took the reins of the company, becoming the owner and director after his father’s retirement. He now spearheads the business, as his siblings pursued different interests and academic qualifications.
The company’s current structure boasts an impressive 23-hectare area, with 23,000 square meters of greenhouses equipped with modern facilities such as pad fans, shading, heating, drainage, and rainwater collection reservoirs. Recent investments have focused on sustainability, including a boiler for heating photovoltaic energy and expanding the greenhouses to accommodate changing rooms and employee facilities.
One noteworthy addition to the business in 2023 was a new greenhouse spanning 2,150 square meters. This expansion was primarily driven by the increasing production of Anthuriums. The investment made with the company’s resources became more significant due to the economic impact of the pandemic in Brazil.
A key question that arises is why Van Vliet Antúrios chose to focus on Anthurium pot plants. Arien explains that Anthuriums offer an attractive profit margin and are relatively easy to cultivate. Furthermore, they align with the preferences of the Brazilian market, where Anthurium is a beloved and increasingly consumed plant.
In terms of sales and distribution, the company collaborates with the Veiling Holambra Cooperative, the same system as in the Netherlands. Most of the production is delivered to the cooperative, where customers from all regions in Brazil make their purchases. Currently, around 80% of their sales are direct, with the remaining 20% conducted through the ‘on the clock’ auction.
What sets Van Vliet Antúrios apart is its commitment to sustainable practices. The company has been dedicated to sustainability since 2007, when they recovered four hectares of forest near a river on their property. In 2010, they created a 6,000 cubic meter rainwater reservoir for irrigation. All their greenhouses have drainage systems to ensure that water used for irrigation is collected and returned to the reservoir.
In 2022, they invested in 432 photovoltaic panels to generate their energy, taking full advantage of the abundant sunlight in Brazil. They have also been working on reducing the use of chemical pesticides and incorporating more biological alternatives. Additionally, they are exploring the use of biofertilizers to minimize the reliance on mineral fertilizers.
Despite these forward-looking efforts, Van Vliet Antúrios faces challenges in terms of labor. In the region of Holambra, which is close to industrialized cities like Campinas, finding skilled labor for rural companies is increasingly difficult. The declining youth labor force in Brazil further compounds this issue. As couples have fewer children, it’s possible that Brazil’s population growth will become negative in the coming years. To address this, the company is considering investments in technology, such as treadmills and robots, to compensate for the labor shortage. Additionally, they are exploring ways to make working with flowers and plants more appealing to young people.
Arien van Viet sees the partnership with Anthura as essential to their success. He notes the continuous genetic improvement of Anthurium and orchids as a crucial aspect of their collaboration, ensuring adaptability to various climatic conditions in different countries and regions. He also believes that Anthura could provide valuable insights into technological trends and production cost optimization, which is vital, especially given the labor shortage issue.
In conclusion, Van Vliet Antúrios is a family business with a rich history and a bright future. Their dedication to sustainability, coupled with their commitment to innovation and automation, positions them as leaders in the Brazilian floral industry. As they tackle challenges in labor and succession planning, their journey exemplifies the resilience and adaptability required to thrive in the ever-evolving world of agriculture.
For more information:
Anthura
www.anthura.nl