Best Brand 2026: Interview DCM

DCM has won the Best Brand Award for the category "Best Garden Care"!

If you had to name the single ‘proof point’ that makes people trust DCM (effectiveness, safety, sustainability, expertise, availability…), what would it be and how do you protect that trust every season?

The ultimate proof of trust in DCM lies in the professional quality and effectiveness of our solutions. For our fertilizers, for example, we utilize our MINIGRAN® technology: with this unique micro-granule, we bringprofessional-grade quality directly to the consumer.

It is more than just a granule; we use high-quality raw materials sourced from food industry by-products. This is circular economy in practice, guaranteeing results by uniting technology and nature.

With DCM MINIGRAN®, consumers don't have to choose between beautiful results and sustainability. It is our quality promise for a resilient, healthy garden. This is how we deliver exactly what we promise: for 50 years, DCM has been bringing life to the garden.

Belgian gardens are changing with climate stress (heat, drought, heavy rain). How is DCM adapting its product innovation and advice so gardeners feel prepared not overwhelmed?

DCM proactively prepares your garden before the first signs of stress become visible. By nourishing the soil, we transform it into a natural sponge that absorbs excess water during heavy downpours and preserves thisprecious moisture for hot, dry days.

At the same time, our products encourage plants and lawns to develop deep roots, allowing them to find water themselves in the cooler subsoil. Furthermore, we strengthen them from the inside out with a kind of naturalarmor, making them much more resistant to heat and disease. The result? A resilient garden that simply takes care of itself.

Many consumers want greener solutions but still expect performance. Where do you draw the line between ‘natural’ and ‘effective’ and how do you communicate that without sounding technical or defensive?

DCM doesn’t see 'natural' and 'effective' as opposites; we believe they must go hand in hand. With our bio-rational products, we consciously choose solutions that deliver strong performance with minimal impact on peopleand nature. Effectiveness is always the baseline: if it doesn't work in practice, it doesn't belong in our range.

Where is the line?

• We select active ingredients and techniques that show proven results in the garden.

• At the same time, we limit our ecological footprint by using natural, renewable, or circular raw materials and targeted mechanisms.

• This allows us to avoid overloading the soil and environment without compromising on performance.

How do we communicate this clearly?

• By focusing on recognizable benefits: strong plants, visible results, and long-term care for the garden.

• We show that sustainability isn't a compromise, but a smarter way to achieve the same—or even better—results.

• The core message remains simple: DCM always chooses maximum effectiveness with minimal impact on people and nature.

Beyond products, DCM is also about guidance. What’s one myth you’d love to debunk for Belgian gardeners and what simple habit would you like to ‘teach’ the market?

A persistent misconception is that you primarily need to "feed" the plant itself to see results. In reality, a healthy garden starts with living soil. The soil life, not the plant, is the engine: bacteria, fungi, and other micro-organisms break down organic matter and convert it step-by-step into absorbable plant nutrition. Without active soil life, nutrients remain less available and plants become more sensitive to stress, drought, and disease.

What we want to teach gardeners The simplest habit is: feed the soil first, then the plant. By using organic fertilizers, you provide food for the soil life. These organisms digest this material and turn it into a gradual, naturalflow of nutrients for plants and lawns.

Why it works

• An active soil improves structure and water management.

• Nutrients are released gradually, matching the plant's natural rhythm.

• Roots develop stronger and deeper.

• Plants become more resilient against heat, drought, and diseases