The story of Koppert Biological Systems takes us back to the sixties when cucumber grower, Jan Koppert, just like any other grower experienced a great deal of setbacks with pests in his crop. Together with his son, Peter, he set out to find a natural solution to protect his crop and experimented with the deployment of predatory mites against a spider mite infestation. It proved to be a successful solution that led to the foundation of the company. A continuous growth has been witnessed in the following decades, lifting the company from pioneer to a global market leader in biological crop protection solutions.
From the humble beginnings of a brand that started in a family greenhouse, Koppert Biological Systems now has dozens of products that are sold in over 100 countries spread across all continents of the world. The company now boasts of 27 subsidiaries and over 1300 dedicated employees.
To mark the Golden Jubilee this year 2017, a series of events were lined up. For instance, on the 14th September, an inspirational “Partners with Nature” seminar was held at the headquarters in the Netherlands. This was attended by over 700 guests from across the world. The Dutch King, Willem-Alexander, graced the event and officially opened the Experience Center; that will display Koppert’s history, mission and vision, the current holistic approach to crops and the R&D and production processes of our microbial and macrobial products. In an exciting staff evening party on the 15th of September, the King through Mayor van der Stadt presented two of Koppert’s directors, Paul Koppert and Henri Oosthoek, the royal decoration of Officer in the Order of Oranje-Nassau. The royal decoration was bestowed on them for their ‘broad input and meaningful work’ to the society.
Here in Kenya, the celebration week ran concurrently with the annual Naivasha Horticultural Fair that Koppert Kenya attended. To appreciate our loyal clients, partners and those who visited our stand, was each given a special 50-year token.
As we look forward to our next 50 years, we are dedicated to the success of our growers and our commitment is to keep introducing new sustainable solutions to combat pests and diseases and support resilient cultivation. Whereas much has been achieved over the years, there is still a great deal to develop and strive for. In partnership with nature, we continue to make agriculture healthier, safer and more productive. We cannot think of a better cause to dedicate our work to.