Robert Keijzer (export manager) and Wouter Kuiper (CEO) of KUBO visited the Agrimind project in Japan at the end of June. This Ultra-Clima greenhouse operates under the cultivation guidance of Peter Satow, an Ultra-Clima expert.
Ultra-Clima guidance
Peter Satow is affiliated with Kagome’s cultivation companies as their cultivation consultant. Peter has amassed vast experience in similar climates. His clients have a number of Ultra-Clima greenhouses in various climate zones. In particular, his Ultra-Clima experiences in his own company Tomatrio in Salon de Provence, France, are valuable for the Agrimind project in the Yamanashi Prefecture region.
Kagome
Kagome is a large Japanese food producer supervising the Agrimind project and assisting with cultivation. It is very distinctive and active on the Japanese market with its fresh tomato business unit. Kagome only positions itself on the market with products that provide added value and are characterised by extremely high quality, flavour and consistency. The varieties it produces have been carefully selected for flavor.
Kagome employs very skilled and serious growers and managers. Wouter Kuiper: “In a typically Japanese way, thought is given to every tiny detail and a good balance is always strived for: not just in the greenhouse but also on the market. Very interesting and informative."
Climate
The climate in particular is very challenging: the Japanese summers are warm and humid both during the day and at night.
Robert Keijzer: “Our recent visit was at the start of the rainy season in Japan. This is an especially challenging time for growers, with very changeable light and humidity conditions during a 24-hour period. It is very difficult to manage these conditions. The Ultra-Clima system in any event provides more tools for getting through this challenging period and ending up with a strong and healthy crop."
With the Ultra-Clima greenhouse, the plant can be kept active thanks to the airflow along the crop. This allows more evaporation from the plant than in a traditional greenhouse, despite the high humidity. Performance improves accordingly. You could compare it to a warm but humid summer day; if you sit still without any air circulation, you quickly become very warm and feel oppressed. If you turn on a fan or go cycling, for instance, you cool down. This is due to the air circulation, which allows you to perspire and therefore cool off.
For more information:
KUBO Greenhouse Projects B.V.