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by Gijsbrecht Gunter - president of Holland Onion Association

We have known it for more than 2,400 years. The Greek writer Xenophon observed that good farming begins with understanding the soil. The only question is: do we act on that knowledge — or do we merely know it?

What happens beneath our feet determines what grows above it. A handful of healthy soil contains billions of microorganisms — a complete ecosystem that drives structure, nutrient availability and resilience. This is where the real difference is made. For that reason, Dutch onion growers and researchers continue to invest structurally in soil data and analysis. Through targeted sampling, well before sowing, insights are gained that help guide decisions on onion varieties, precision fertilisation and crop protection. This is not theory, but proven practice within the Dutch onion sector.

That foundation is one we must hold on to. Because a strong onion sector begins with resilient soil — and every healthy Dutch onion begins there.

How do we apply this in the Netherlands? Watch it here in the first episode of our new series: Sustainable Layers | Healthy Soil – Healthy Start.