Pascal Delahaye (right) with his nephew and partner Matthieu Serrault. Their business, together with Koppert France, takes full advantage of organic crop protection.
Top restaurants in Azia
Pascal Delahaye is one of the thirteen businesses who grow this variety. He mainly supplies this exclusive cherry tomato to grocery stores in France and the surrounding countries such as Belgium, England, Germany and Spain. An interesting fact: via a trader, he also supplies his quality product to top restaurants in Hong Kong and Singapore.
A key success factor
How has his product achieved such a strong position? The fantastic taste of Piccolo is naturally an important factor, as is the exclusivity. But the organic crop protection also plays an important role. Le jardin de Rabelais has worked closely with Koppert France since the beginning. The goals have not changed and have only come closer: for as far as possible, not to use any crop protection chemicals and keep the residue level at zero. "The integrated crop protection is a key success factor in our business," according to Pascal Delahaye. "A lot depends on it. We plant new crops in the winter and thereafter work with interplanting for three years. An infestation that strikes just after planting can also give three years of problems. Therefore, we need to use everything that organic crop protection has to offer."
Consultant Hervé Catteau of Koppert France visits Le jardin de Rabelais every month. The organic crop protection, the natural pollination and the NatuGro system are balanced.
Crop protection more complex
For this reason, the relationship between Le jardin de Rabelais and Koppert France is intensive and close. Consultant Hervé Catteau visits the business every month and if needed, more often. Recently, he solved an acute problem with the pollination. Pascal Delahaye: "Between planting, growing lights and LED light make the crop protection a bit more complex. Koppert France has the knowledge so that we can cope with the complexity. For twenty-five years, we have been working closely together."
Growing lights, LED light and between planting make organic crop protection for Le jardin de Rabelais more complex than normal.
Stronger roots with NatuGro
Together with Koppert France, Le jardin de Rabelais are trying to get everything they can out of the organic approach. That is the reason for the demand from the French business for resistant growing, above and under the ground. Delahaye: "The NatuGro system from Koppert is not only important for the resistance to disease and infection from the soil or substrate, but also for the strength of growth and for the resistance against above ground infections. That fits with our work to get the use of chemicals to zero." New possibilities are being researched. "Until now, we used new rockwool mats every year. But we are going to try to use them for longer, so that we can take the built up micro-organisms over to the new crop." The effort seems to be paying off, effects can clearly be seen. "Since we have been strengthening and protecting the crop with NatuGro together with Koppert, there have been no problems in the root environment. We also haven't seen any Botrytis."
Better life
Meanwhile, Pascal Delahaye has also been working together with French growers in the organisation 'Demain la terre' on a cultivation concept similar to the Dutch Pura Natura. The key concept is 'Better life.' "In 'Demain la terre,' it is all about sustainability and the environment, energy and also social values as a good employer."
Advice that works
In relation to the collaboration with Koppert France, the final word goes to Pascal Delahaye."We have a very good relationship and we get advice from Koppert that actually gives good results. The people from Koppert are serious and know my business very well. I really like working with Koppert."