ENVIRONMENTAL AND QUALITY MANAGEMENT ON BELGIAN GLASSHOUSE HOLDINGS

Abstract

Research on competitive strategies of Belgian glasshouse growers reveals that high quality and environmental sound production will be required in the future. The aim of the current research is to detect the determinants of environmental and quality management at firm level and their impact on the performance of the enterprise. Based on a theoretical framework the basic hypothesis is that, besides external variables, personal characteristics of the manager (age, education, personal objectives,...) and firm characteristics (sector, size, business objectives...) determine the strategies adopted in operating the business as well as the performance of the firm. Data for the research are obtained from accounting data and interviews using a pre-tested questionnaire at 59 holdings specialised in vegetable production and 89 holdings specialised in production of ornamental plants belonging to the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) of the Centre of Agricultural Economics. Cluster analysis, analysis of variance as well as regression analysis are used to analyse the data. Statistical analysis of the data on quality management reveals that high quality management is positively related to 'participation in seminars', 'expressive objectives', 'creativity and innovation', 'economic dimension' and 'vegetable production'. Investments in environmental sound production techniques are influenced by 'economic dimension', 'participation in seminars and the business objectives 'creativity and innovation and 'growth'. Analysis of the financial performance of the glasshouse holdings indicates a positive and significant association with environmental and quality management.