PRODUCT AND PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT ALONG THE VALUE CHAIN OF HORTICULTURAL OPEN FIELD PRODUCTION

Success of open field production depends to a large extent on the production conditions. The producer’s influence on the conditions is limited. Breaks in the weather, diseases and pests occur without a long preparation period. On the other hand, the retailers, the consumers and the legislators expect a safe production process and a high quality and safe products in sufficient quantities for a reasonable price. New claims like regionalism and sustainability are becoming more and more important and evidence must be produced. Additionally, the producers have to comply with the international and the national laws. To take the company’s future into account, the producers have to fulfil all of the named expectations. The present paper deals with basic knowledge about controllership and information management, mapping the value chain of horticultural open field production and approaches to design, adapt and implement a production optimising and information coordinating management system.