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Nick Vos already knew during his intermediate education that he wanted to specialize in pest-control. “I like to solve problems”, he says. “The problems and suitable approach differ for each plant and plant phase.
There is a lot of variety in the job of biological pest control advisor. Besides, the constantly changing regulations force us to find alternatives for chemicals and to focus on prevention rather than solving. For instance, hygiene and more efficient growing are important elements in preventing fungi, bacteria or viruses. But I don’t see pesticides disappearing entirely. The consumer demands high quality crops and to meet these demands we need to use chemicals. Biological treatments just don’t work immediately and it doesn't cure the pest completely, so a pest or plague can still cause damage.
During his internship, Nick worked at a Chrysanthemums breeder in South Africa. This is where he got inspired to a more international ambition. “It is my goal to become a biological pest-control advisor, preferably internationally. I want to share our knowledge on biological solutions and sustainability worldwide. Though the different challenges in different regions also interest me, we all need to grow cleaner, more sustainable and with less chemicals. These goals are not bound to one country and I want to help reach these goals on a global level.”