Gartenbau-Versicherung (GV) has drawn up a claims balance sheet for 2022, which shows that an above-average number of claims were settled again. Every fifth member company reported damage last year.
Storm and hail caused considerable damage
After an above-average damage year in 2021, the past year also turned out to be above-average in terms of damage in horticulture. Accordingly, the GM had to pay out over 50 million euros, so every fifth member company was affected by damage. Most of the damage was caused by the storms Ylenia, Zeynep and Antonia in Germany in February 2022. In the summer, the west coast of Italy was also hit several times by severe storms including tornadoes. This storm also cost the insurance company several million euros. Furthermore, hail was the second leading cause of damage, especially in France. Many windows broke here in the densely populated horticultural center in Orléans. The damage here alone was around 5 million euros, and in total around 7 million euros were incurred in France for hail damage in June alone.
Pests and technical failure
In addition to natural disasters, quarantine pests also caused losses in commercial horticulture. The Jordan virus ToBRFV caused six-figure damage in several German tomato farms. In addition, technical failure also caused damage reports.
Increasing internationalization and digitization
In addition to members in Germany, France, Italy and other European nations, the GV also concluded the first contracts in Poland last year. As a result, the company is now active in eight countries. “The last two years have shown again how important it is for our members to have a broad regional spread. This is the only way we can offer affordable and good protection in the face of climate change,” says Christian Senft, CEO of GV, explaining the increasingly international orientation of the specialist insurer. In addition, they want to reform the claims process and have started a digitization project in this context. “Our first goal is to become even faster and better for our members. […] In addition, our teams at headquarters and on site should have more time to use their human qualities in advising and personally supporting our members. We are setting the course for this this year,” Senft gives an insight into the current process.
