Peter Korsten (Botany) combines product development and entrepreneurship

In Meterik, Limburg lies the company Botany. 15 years ago Peter and two colleagues founded the company. Due to a reorganization at his old employer, his plan for a change to co-creation with companies in the greenhouse industry was put on hold. The three of them dared to carry out the plan after all, but then within a new company. Together with WUR Glasshouse horticulture they made a deal and 'Botany' was born.

Distinctive in research & development

Botany focuses on facilitating research & development in the horticulture sector. In the early years, they also grew vegetables, flowers and potted plants for additional income. The cultivation was eventually divested. Botany now focuses on six topics, namely plant physiology, seed physiology, entomology, phytopahtology, cultivation technology and cultivation systems. "We develop trials, do research, create prototypes and supervise product development," Peter says.

Botany is different from other companies because they focus on the professional horticulturist, specifically the research and development companies. These are then the breeders/producers, agrochemists and agrotechnicians. They help develop a product, while the company itself brings the product to market. The Botany group includes five companies: Botany, Exploras, Innoveins, Innoveins Seeds Solutions and Brightbox.

"When I look back at our original plan, we have stayed very close to it. The vision has not changed, but it has been adapted to the developments in the market. Co-creation is still the common thread through all our work. And we have made research affordable," says Peter.

As a former student, Peter can give HAS students to "dive well into the content courses. As a director I focus much less on the plant business than I used to (...), but precisely because I have a lot of plant knowledge, I can make the right connections within the company and I know what really matters. In my opinion that is the added value of the HAS."

Peter in Brief

As son of a tomato grower Peter chose to study at HAS University of Applied Sciences so he could take over the family business. When he arrived at the university it became clear that there was much more to discover than just growing tomatoes. Peter has held several positions within different companies. For example, he has been research fertilizer, managed a team of horticultural advisors and a research lab, gave advice and was involved in product development.

Read the whole interview with Peter here.