The greenhouse complex is owned by Sino-European horticulture company Hainan Runda, a company that has already invested in smaller greenhouse production on the island in the past; they have established a market, and due to increased local demand for safely grown quality produce in the region and Hong Kong district, they now want to lift everything to the next level by investing in even more advanced production. As well as this, they hope that advanced protected cropping will take off in the region by creating awareness of sustainable and efficient production. By serving as one of the pioneers in this region, the group hopes to inspire other entrepreneurs about the benefits of partnering with European tech suppliers, in order to answer the demand for healthier and safe nutrition.
The greenhouse is being built by Beijing Kingpeng, an international greenhouse builder from China. Next to this, Dutch companies Rijk Zwaan, Visser, MetaZet/FormFlex and Ridder HortiMaX are the main suppliers of technology for the project. Rijk Zwaan supplied the seeds, Visser the packaging line and logistic systems and Metazet/FormFlex the gutters channels. Ridder HortiMaX provided all the climate control technology, user interface software, drive systems, and irrigation and fertigation equipment.
HortiMax did not only supply their latest model of the Vitalite UV disinfection system and a complete ProDrain system, but also their ‘Productive’ labor management systems to support the output of high quality products and boost the yields even further.
Installation of the HortiMaX Prodrain system
According to Fulco Wijdooge, General Manager China at Ridder/HortiMax, two things are driving the move toward Dutch styled horticultural production in China. "Labor is getting more expensive here, but more importantly, the number of people that are available to work in the greenhouse is gradually going down, which is a much bigger problem. People don't want to work in agriculture anymore," Fulco says. "Hence, companies are forced to streamline their production and optimize the labor management. If you don't have enough people available, you better be sure that they will work as efficiently as possible."
For more information;
Ridder (Shanghai) Agricultural Technology Co. Ltd.
Fulco M. Wijdooge
f.wijdooge@ridderhortimax.com
www.ridderhortimax.com