FARM VISIT ▶▶▶
‘Constantly adapting to new opportunities’
The Zegeren farm in Holambra, Brazil, is a third-generation operation. At the heart of the farm there is a 24,000 bird parent stock facility, surrounded by an orange plantation and a potted plant business. “Every generation added something to the farm,” says Walter Zegeren. ‘’We are constantly chasing new opportunities and putting our money where it makes the most sense.”
Cooperation of Dutch origin
Walter Zegeren is a descendant of one of about 100 families that emigrated from the Netherlands to the Dutch settlement Holam- bra in Brazil. About 500 immigrants settled there after the devas- tation caused by the Second World War in Europe. The colony Ho- lambra and the Cooperativa Agropecuária de Holambra, a cattle farming cooperation in Holambra, were founded in 1948 at the farm Fazenda Ribeirão, situated 150 kilometres east of São Paulo. Due to climate conditions, the immigrants had to abandon their plans for a cattle and dairy operation in Brazil. They soon adapted to other farming practices. Being livestock farmers a switch to pig and poultry production was the logical way to go, resulting in a cooperative integration for poultry production that still exists to- day. To outsiders, Holambra is famous for its large production of flowers and plants and for the yearly event Expoflora. In April 1998 this fact was recognised as Holambra gained the status of Estância Turística, touristic location.
C BY FABIAN BROCKÖTTER
oming from a small-scale dairy farm in the Nether- lands in 1958, the grandparents of Walter Zegeren were hoping to build a new future. At the time their home country was still struggling in the aftermath
Walter Zegeren looks to a future in potted plants, but without neglecting the poultry branch of his farm.
10 ▶ POULTRY WORLD | No. 2, 2020
of the Second World War, with the economy in rubble and the chances of building a future-proof existence in livestock farm- ing slim. That was also acknowledged by the regional farmers cooperation, which started to scout for new opportunities abroad. In 1948 the cooperation found a location in São Paulo state. Brazil was introduced to the coop members as the new “promised land”. After the first settlers moved to Brazil, more followed in the decade to come, including the Zegeren family. Zegeren says, “Dairy farming was their métier, but they soon had to adapt their original plans. When they arrived in Brazil they saw the first settlers struggle with the health of their live- stock and soon thereafter experienced firsthand that the dairy cows brought from the Netherlands didn’t do well in the Bra- zilian environment. It was just too hot for them and they caught all kinds of tropical illnesses.” It didn’t take the Zegeren family long to come up with a new business plan, and they eventually switched to the production of oranges. Zegeren continues: “Our orange plantation was our core busi- ness for many years, but with the next generation taking over the farm, my father decided to add an extra source of income to the family company. In 1986, the year I was born, he invest- ed in two poultry houses, in which we currently grow 24,000 broiler breeders. The investments were made together with the rest of the farmers cooperative Holambra. It did research and found that chicken manure was an ideal nutrient in the orange plantations of its members.” When Zegeren himself became active in the farm ten years ago, he – again together with the coop – decided to add another branch to the farm. He invested in greenhouses to grow potted plants and is cur- rently exploring the possibilities of growing vegetables there
PHOTOS: FABIAN BROCKÖTTER
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