A concept of modern entrepreneurship in Dutch horticulture

Dutch growers have to deal with a combination of challenges, like EU competition, a changing market, clustering within the agricultural chain, development of (information) technology, a more flexible and tight labour market and increasing demands of the 'customer'. According to the Dutch ministry these challenges call for an innovative form of management and organisation, called 'modern agro-entrepreneurship'. The unanswered questions are; how can this entrepreneurship be stimulated by Dutch government? And how can it be integrated in the agricultural education system? The basis for the answers lies in a definition of entrepreneurship, combined with a qualification of the entrepreneurs competencies and, if possible, a quantification. In brief, the main goals of this research project are (a) definition of the competencies of a good entrepreneur and ib) a translation of these competencies in agricultural education and training With the use of the results of former studies of 'Modern management concepts and 'Entrepreneurs of mega-enterprises' in horticulture we worked out a new conceptual model of entrepreneurship. In the centre of this model the grower is described as a circle, divided in three main competencies: professional grower (viz. craftsman), manager and entrepreneur. Besides these three 'competence domains', other, indefinite 'personal characteristics' influence the way the grower acts and makes decisions. In an attempt to define entrepreneurship, these characteristics have to be taken into account as well. They surround our circle. as a grey rind. The model in total places the entrepreneur in the context of his own enterprise. the immediate environment. surrounding society and the (agricultural) knowledge infrastructure. In this model the strategic choices he makes and the strategic management of the enterprise are the outcome of entrepreneurship. In essence, this concept of entrepreneurship integrates theories from different disciplines: management, engineering, sociology and psychology.