Havens Bart de Leeuw retiring
Bart de Leeuw (also known as ‘NIR-godfather’) has officially started his retirement this summer, although he will continue to play a role within the Havens/MCSubstradd team.
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At an early stage, Bart recognised the value of NIR technology for our industry.
n 1985 Bart started working for Trouw Nutrition as a representative for the agricultural department, selling premixes, raw materials, and offering technical
guidance. At this time, Havens was an important customer of Bart. In the early 1990s, Bart became responsible for Milichamp within Trouw Nutrition. When, in 1993, the manufacturer of Milichamp decided to discontinue production, a new manufacturer was sought. This turned out to be Havens. However, Bart decided to change course in 1998 and start his own company, specializing in hydrotherapy for dogs. In 2008, Trouw Nutrition decided to also discontinue the sales department of Milichamp. Havens then decided to take over this part of the business as well. This offered Havens a new market with great opportunities. However, they needed someone with the knowledge and experience to manage the development and sales. Bart decided to free up a few days a week to come and work for Havens. However, these few days a week, quickly became more than planned, when in 2009 at the NAMC a simple hand shake, marked the beginning of a close relationship with Sylvan. Travelling became more and more, and Bart decided to focus solely on the mushroom industry. This was around the same time, when Wim Joosten (Substradd) made his entry. A collabo- ration between Bart and Wim, Milichamp and Substradd was started, creating MCSubstradd. A brand for mushroom supplements, created by
a duo with extensive knowledge, unique insights and experience, and with a lot of joy and good times in doing so.
The introduction of NIR Another important goal in Bart’s career, was convincing people of the options and possibilities of NIR (Near Infra-red Spectroscopy). From the start, Bart had always been convinced that we need to learn more about the quality and biolo- gical processes of composting. However, at that time there was no analysis or method available, that could provide this much information in a timely matter. When Bart got introduced to NIR technology, he was convinced this would be a valuable method for the industry. He started building calibration lines for compost and has been improving, expanding, and advocating this method ever since. During this time, there were only 2 people that supported Bart in his ideas and goals. These were Monica (Bart’s wife) and Bart Driessen. Together with Bart Driessen, he spent a lot of time, discussing the opportunities, the outcome of results, and what this would mean in practice. Bart de Leeuw also wrote for Mushroom Business on this and other subjects from time to time, and ‘it was always fun to meet and talk and have a smoke outside some congress hall somewhere on the planet’, as the publisher of MB recalls.
Looking back and forward Bart will spend his time travelling, but mostly for fun rather than work. He enjoys cooking and will pick up gardening, but chooses to remain involved in the industry, and will also be available to consult. He says: “Looking back on my career, I think I am personally most proud of the NIR. I have greatly enjoyed travelling, especially with Wim. I travelled with him for over 10 years and we never had an arguement. I also greatly enjoyed travelling with ‘the youth’ making them more acknowledged in the industry.”
Thanks Bart!
The Havens/MCSubstradd team, summer 2025 (fltr): Joris Kaanen, Monica de Leeuw, Bart de Leeuw, Maartje Frankena, and Tom Peeters (see also FOCUS pages).
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