Hey, I didn’t write this. It’s ChatGPT list we made after a long discussion about sustainability and research of the bulb industry. I can’t claim that I’ve read all of it either but I’m working my way through. Some of it is interesting.

Pick out an article that looks interesting to you and let me know your thoughts.

1. Residues in Ornamental Plants Marketed as Bee Friendly: Levels in Flowers, Leaves, Roots and Soil”
   This is a study of 54 perennial ornamental plants marketed as “bee friendly,” analyzing whole bulbs, roots, soil, stems, petals for up to 536 pesticide compounds. It shows that all tested plants contained at least one pesticide, sometimes up to 19 different substances. SSRN
   • Use: strong empirical support for your point that “residual is a loose term” and for caution about what “organic” or “pesticide-free” claims might mean in ornamentals.
2. “Pesticide exposure in dwellings near bulb growing fields — an explorative study” (Hogenkamp et al., Netherlands, 2004)
   This study measured pesticide residues in household dust in homes of bulb growers, and in homes close to bulb fields. They found detectable levels of compounds like chloropropham, flutolanil, and vinchlozolin in non-farming homes too, and higher levels in bulb growers’ homes. aaem.pl+1
   • Use: to show the pathways by which bulb production pesticides may spread beyond fields, strengthening your environmental- and health-oriented angle.
3. “A review on pesticides in flower production” (Pereira et al., 2021)
   A broader survey of pesticide use in floriculture, discussing effects on human and environmental health, and pointing out how ornamental plant production is less regulated or less scrutinised than food crops. ScienceDirect
   • Use: to ground your argument in a broader literature, and to reference industry-level challenges of reducing pesticide use.
4. “PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN ORNAMENTAL PLANTS” SSRN (Porseryd et al.)
   The same work noted above but useful as a downloadable reference. SSRN
5. “From bulb development to postharvest treatments: advances in Hippeastrum spp.” (Shao et al., 2025)
   While not focused on pesticide residues, this paper discusses postharvest treatments and cultivation techniques in bulbous plants — which may include chemical treatments or sanitation steps. maxapress.com
   • Use: for background on how bulb industry handles bulb health, treatments, and postharvest care — helpful for your discussion of bulb industry practices.
6. “A solution for clean water in the flower bulb sector” — VAM WaterTech (industry report/blog)
   Describes a water-treatment and reuse system for bulb growers that removes fungi, viruses, and pesticide residuesfrom wash water, to reduce chemical load and improve sustainability. VAM WaterTech
   • Use: as a concrete example of a technological mitigation: you can present this as evidence that the industry does try to clean up, but also as evidence of the cost/complexity involved.

Benefits of Perennial Plants / Cropping Systems

1. “An agroecological vision of perennial agriculture” (Reynolds et al., 2021)
   Discusses how perennial crops can improve erosion control, soil health, pest management, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Taylor & Francis Online
   • Use: a conceptual/theoretical underpinning for your argument; use key phrases or results to support claims about perennials’ ecological advantage.
2. “Potential of Perennial Crop on Environmental Sustainability of Agriculture” (Zhang et al., 2011)
   Outlines environmental advantages of perennial vs annual systems: deeper roots, constant soil cover, reduced nutrient leaching, etc. ScienceDirect+1
   • Use: to support claims about soil, water, and nutrient benefits of perennial planting.
3. “Does the Use of Perennials in Flower Beds Necessarily Improve Sustainability?” (Poje et al., 2023)
   This article addresses economic and ecological aspects of using perennials in landscaping: fewer replacements, less maintenance, positive soil effects. PMC
   • Use: good to reference when you argue that perennials can be more economical and lower maintenance in the long run.
4. “Perennial crops provide sustainable environmental benefits compared to annual crops” (News-Medical summary of research)
   A summary noting that perennials reduce soil & water erosion, nitrate leaching, and increase carbon sequestration relative to annuals. News-Medical
   • Use: an accessible summary you can cite (while also tracking down the original research if possible).
5. “Climate Benefits of Increasing Plant Diversity in Perennial Systems” (Yang et al., 2019)
   This paper shows that plant diversity in perennial systems helps soil carbon storage, reduces N₂O emissions, suppresses weeds, etc. ScienceDirect
   • Use: good support for secondary benefits of perennials beyond just “they don’t die.”
6. “Perennial Crops Boost Biodiversity Both On and Off Farms” (Civil Eats, 2023)
   Discusses how perennial cropping systems create continuous habitat for insects, birds, microbes — unlike annual systems that keep clearing and disturbing the soil. Civil Eats
   • Use: for the more narrative or “ecological story” side of your article — showing how perennials anchor life.

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KPIs in Horticulture / Agriculture / Grower Metrics

1. “Top 10 KPIs Every Greenhouse Grower Should Track” (Velosio, 2025)
   Lists metrics such as yield per m², crop uniformity, labour efficiency, resource use (water, fertiliser), input cost per output, etc. Velosio
   • Use: as inspiration for what bulb growers might already measure — helpful to connect your gardener’s pressure to the internal metrics of the industry.
2. “Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) – making use of production data” (AHDB, UK agriculture/horticulture)
   An agricultural/horticultural guide to choosing meaningful KPIs — with examples of financial KPIs (cost per unit, pounds per unit output) and production metrics. AHDB
   • Use: to ground your claims about industry-level pressures and what growers have to track.
3. “Production Costs and Profitability for Selected Greenhouse Annual and Perennial Crops” (Wei, Khachatryan & Rihn, 2020)
   A study comparing economic performance of various greenhouse-grown crops, both annual and perennial, using metrics like net income, gross margin, profit margin, sensitivity analysis. It shows that although perennials may have higher initial costs or more uncertainty, they can still produce positive returns under certain conditions. ASHS
   • Use: to lend financial realism to your argument — i.e. that perennials are not an economic fantasy, but a trade-off some growers already consider.
4. “Use benchmarking to improve your production metrics” (GreenhouseMag, 2010)
   Discusses using benchmarks and KPIs in greenhouse operations to understand how small efficiency improvements can compound in profit. Greenhouse Management
   • Use: as a reference point for how growers might respond to demands from gardeners (i.e. they are always optimizing small margins).
5. “Decades matter: Agricultural diversification increases financial profitability, biodiversity, and ecosystem services over time” (Raveloaritiana et al., 2024, preprint)
   This meta-analysis shows that over 20+ years, diversified systems (including more perennial or mixed planting) greatly increase soil quality, biodiversity, profitability, carbon sequestration. arXiv
   • Use: as a long-term systems argument: shifting to more perennial/mixed systems does not just trade off yield — it multiplies benefits over decades.

Residues on bulbs & exposure around bulb fields

• RIVM “OBO flower bulbs” exposure study (Netherlands) – official Dutch investigation of resident exposure routes (air/soil/dust) near flower-bulb fields. Good for explaining how non-dietary routes work and why “residues dissipate over time” is context-dependent. RIVM+1
• WUR/LEI – flower-bulb production & crop protection – background on integrated pest management history in the bulb sector and the shift away from heavy pesticide dependence; useful for historic context. eDepot
• Efficiency & emissions of pesticides in Dutch bulb cultivation (WUR) – explains emission pathways from bulb fields to surface water (drainage, drift), handy for a factual sidebar on “where residues go.” eDepot
• Progress report of the national environmental forum for bulbs – notes long-term trends in water quality in bulb regions and remaining exceedances; supports a balanced “improving but not solved” framing. eDepot
• PAN Netherlands report on pesticides & water quality – NGO synthesis showing where exceedances are most common (bulb areas among hotspots). Useful for showing external pressure/critique. pan-netherlands.org
• VAM WaterTech case – concrete example of bulb-sector wash-water purification aimed at removing pesticide residues, fungi & viruses; good for “industry mitigation in practice.” VAM WaterTech+1

Real-world Dutch bulb-industry KPIs (and who sets/uses them)

• KAVB (Royal General Bulb Growers’ Association) – “Duurzaamheid: 1e voorzet KPI’s bloembollensector” (Nov 2021) – this is the KPI paper drafted with the Ministry of LNV and sector groups. It outlines circularity/soil/water/biodiversity/plant-health KPI sets and the rationale. Quote from the table of KPI domains, and the “area pilot” findings section. kavb.nl+1
• BKD (Flower Bulb Inspection Service) – Annual Report 2024 – ZBO that inspects bulb quality/phyto health; annuals include sector figures (companies/areas/registrations), trends, and compliance signals you can treat as operational KPIs. bkd.eu+1
• Royal FloraHolland – Annual Report 2024 – while not growers per se, it’s the major cooperative marketplace; use turnover, transaction volumes and energy/cost metrics to illustrate downstream economic KPIs driving the sector. Royal FloraHolland+1
• CBS (Statistics Netherlands) – bulb area 2014–2024 – hard numbers on total bulb hectares and recent decline/increase; perfect for anchoring scale before you argue for demand-side change. Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek
• WUR & sector media on KPI adoption – notes on KAVB’s November 1 (2021) KPI meeting and sector engagement (use as corroboration of KPI process). eDepot

Dutch authorities & regulatory context (who’s who to cite)

• BKD (Bloembollenkeuringsdienst) – statutory body for bulb inspection; EU audit docs explicitly list BKD’s role in plant passport/official controls—great for explaining the compliance backbone. European Commission
• NVWA (Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority) – advisory reports on risks in the ornamental/flower-bulb chain; cite to show oversight on plant health and (indirectly) chemical use. english.nvwa.nl+1
• Ministry of LNV (Agriculture, Nature & Food Quality) – annual/ budget docs referencing BKD as an arm’s-length authority; use for formal definitions and governance lines. Rijksoverheid+2Rijksoverheid+2
• Royal Anthos (trade association for bulb & nursery stock traders) – trade voice and stats gateway; useful for quotes on market dynamics/logistics. anthos.org
• On the way to PlanetProof (SMK) – the sustainability certification most relevant to bulbs in NL; use criteria/updates to evidence KPI-like targets on biodiversity, water, crop protection and propagation material. planetproof.eu+2downloads.smk.nl+2

Benefits of perennials (for your “why perennials” sections)

• Perennials in landscaping—evidence review – peer-reviewed analysis showing lower long-term maintenance, positive soil effects; also warns selection matters (good nuance for your dry wit). PMC
• Perennial agriculture (review/vision) – ecological mechanisms: erosion control, soil health, biodiversity, carbon; use for your “ecosystem, not catalogue” line. Taylor & Francis Online