One year in the blooming world of Seed Valley

Delia Bakker has been leading Seed Valley’s programme office for one year. A great moment to ask her about her experience in this innovative sector and her challenging role as Programme Manager at Seed Valley.

Delia, on 1 March 2023 you stepped from the world of marketing into the green world. That must have been quite a transition. How has your first year been?

“It has been incredibly educational and, above all, fascinating! I have had the opportunity to look behind the scenes at amazing companies, meet many passionate colleagues, discover this blooming sector, and work on various exciting projects.

One example is ‘Director for a Day’, where we collaborate with other organisations in the Netherlands that are also committed to the Food & Flower industry. Together, we give as many higher education students as possible the opportunity to spend a day alongside a director from the sector.

Celebrating our 15th anniversary was another highlight. We visited our partners with an ice cream truck as a thank-you for their commitment as ambassadors. During the anniversary event, we welcomed inspiring speakers to the stage and I also had my first experience speaking in front of an audience, where we reflected on the achievements and impact of the past years.”

It’s great that you joined the Seed Valley community during such a special anniversary year.

Has your first year been a learning experience? What did you not know when you started that you know now?

“Absolutely, it was a great introduction to the sector. Before joining Seed Valley, I didn’t realise how much the seed industry invests in R&D to develop impactful innovations that contribute to global food security.

Through seed innovation, we can produce more with fewer resources and develop crops that can grow successfully under changing conditions.”

If someone asks you now, ‘What are you most proud of?’, what would your answer be?

“That I made the decision to join Seed Valley and that I can contribute to this sector in such a meaningful way. From the programme office, we have an important role: inspiring people about the many opportunities available at our partner companies, in the region, and within the sector itself.”

That means you have truly found your place here. You have met many inspiring people over the past year. What has stayed with you the most?

“Definitely that everyone has such a passion for their work. That is something I have really experienced over the past year. It is fantastic to see how enthusiastically people talk about their roles across all areas — from research and innovation to plant care and cultivation.”

Looking ahead, what plans are there for the coming year?

“In March, the programme office will move to a new location — a great new workplace for my colleagues and me. We also have several new projects in development. A small preview: this year we will focus more on vocational education (MBO) and connecting with future talent.

Of course, we are looking beyond just this year. We are also working on reassessing our long-term strategy and direction. We are ready for an impactful year ahead!”