On 10 June 2021, HAS University of Applied Sciences proudly presented the very first Frans van Leijden Award to Youri Timmermans, a student of Business Administration and Agri-food Business at HAS University of Applied Sciences in Venlo.
Youri devised a solution to limit emissions of plant protection products, and wants to make it available worldwide. The award was presented to him one and a half years after the death of Frans van Leijden in tribute to him. The special ceremony in the studio in Villa Flora in Venlo was broadcast online via the GROW livestream.
‘It isn’t easy to please everyone in this industry. There are lots of different stakeholders with a wide range of different interests to deal with. If someone still has the courage to make that difference, then they deserve our wholehearted support!’ the jury said in its explanation. ‘Youri has shown that he, just like Frans van Leijden, has the courage to be a pioneer, show entrepreneurship, and work hard to make his vision blossom into reality.’
Hester Schilt and the duo Ben Flikweert and Miles Bühlmann were also nominated for the award, in addition to Youri Timmermans. Every one of these four students is bursting with talent and entrepreneurship, and all four deserve a place on the podium with their amazing initiatives. However, Youri got the most votes from the public, and he also convinced the jury that he was a worthy winner of the first Frans van Leijden Award.
Watch videos of the nominees here.
The award itself is a living work of art, designed by Esther Hoogendijk. The starting point for the design was 'robustness, vulnerability, and growth'. Esther managed to incorporate these characteristics into the award by using seeds from pioneering varieties, such as poppy and swamp ragwort. With water and light, the award can grow and bloom.
Youri Timmermans grew up on the family farm. While applying plant protection products and cleaning machinery, he noticed there were considerable emissions of plant protection products. Youri devised a solution for this issue. Youri: ‘We developed a technique that purifies water to tap water quality. This purified water can be reused in agriculture. With this method, we promote circular agriculture, protect the environment, and provide the healthiest food.’
In addition to the award, Youri received a cheque for €1,000. Youri: ‘I want to go beyond merely using this technology on the family farm; I want to make it available worldwide.’ Youri is setting up a website to help publicise his innovation, and hopes to further develop this website and his marketing with the cash prize so that he can expand his business.
The very first Frans van Leijden Award was presented in the Villa Flora studio in Venlo at the end of the GROW event. In addition to the nominees, those present included Yvonne Kerstens (the wife of Frans), Cas and Hannah van Leijden (their children), Dick Pouwels (former chair of the Executive Board of HAS University of Applied Sciences), and Esther Vennekens (university lecturer and co-starter of HAS University of Applied Sciences in Venlo). We were able to share this special moment together, while respecting the COVID-19 measures currently in place.
Under the leadership and direction of Frans van Leijden, HAS University of Applied Sciences in Venlo became a vibrant place. To get to this stage required a pioneering spirit, a willingness to explore boundaries, think and act outside the box, the occasional breaking of imposed boundaries, and entrepreneurship, persistence and hard work. We created the Frans van Leijden Award in tribute to his work. With this award, we’d like to give a helping hand to a student or recent graduate of HAS University of Applied Sciences who shares these or similar qualities, and puts them into practice.
