Supplying high-quality and innovative substrates with a lower CO₂ footprint is important for both humans and the environment. To be able to produce innovative substrates with the best results in practice, Klasmann-Deilmann collaborates with pioneering customers. Deliflor Chrysanthemums is one of these innovation-partners, with whom additional possibilities for further sustainability are being explored.

Recently, NOS visited Deliflor for a news item to see how we are using artificial intelligence (AI) in the development of new chrysanthemum varieties. This visit highlights the increasing role AI plays in the breeding process.

The Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) has published the AI Monitor 2024, which shows that the adoption of AI in the Netherlands has increased significantly. Nearly a quarter of companies (22.7 percent) used some form of AI in 2024, a significant increase compared to previous years.

At Deliflor, we harness the power of AI on multiple fronts. Aike Post, our Breeding Manager, explained how AI is revolutionizing our breeding process and helping us create more sustainable and disease-resistant varieties. "We use AI to predict what kind of offspring our chrysanthemums will produce. This allows us to improve our varieties, making them, for example, longer-lasting or more resistant to diseases."

Additionally, AI helps in assessing the varieties. "A computer can examine the stems and measure how uniformly they grow and how many flowers they have. This used to be all manual work. The computer can measure this much more precisely and quickly," said Post.

Read the full article (in Dutch) here and discover how Deliflor is leveraging the power of AI.

Beekenkamp Group and Dümmen Orange have mutually concluded the exploration phase of a potential deeper collaboration, following discussions that began in October 2024. After careful consideration and assessment of the various strategic opportunities, both companies have agreed that there is insufficient ground to proceed with an expanded partnership beyond their existing collaboration in chrysanthemum rooting, which will continue as planned.

We are proud to announce that David Marin, Director of Deliflor Americas, has won the prestigious Young Grower of the Year title. This honor was awarded by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) during the IPM in Essen.

David Marin earned this recognition due to his innovative approach to sustainable entrepreneurship and his dedication to environmental stewardship in Colombia. His leadership and vision have not only taken Deliflor Americas to new heights but also made a positive impact on the environment.

Congratulations, David, on this well-deserved recognition!