The end of the year is near and therefore we take a moment to look back on the top articles of 2017. Look back on the introduction of growing barrels, CO2 problems and gigantic Russian production numbers.
144 plants per square metre:
Growing in barrels instead of gutters
Instead of cultivating herbs and leafy vegetables in vertical NFT gutters, German developer Marco Tidona, decided to bend the gutters to cultivate in cylindrical cultivation barrels. With these Aponix barrels he can place about 144 plants per square metre in a space that is 2.30 metres high.
Room for greenhouse development in Newfoundland
Newfoundland might not be the first place to think of when discussing greenhouse agriculture. Nonetheless, a group of local entrepreneurs and national professionals came together in St. Johns from February 21 to 23 for the Newfoundland Greenhouse Conference.
GreenCoop:
Young tomato growers bring eco-friendly farming to Slovakia
Back in 2006, four young friends decided to take a leap and start their own tomato producing company. Now, a little over 10 years later, the company has grown into the largest tomato producer in Slovakia and continues to grow and expand, both in terms of new markets, but also in new developments.
Jan VanderHout on Ontario's Cap and Trade:
"We are not making iPhones, but produce basic necessities of life"
A large part of Ontario's greenhouse industry is currently hit hard by the Cap and Trade program that came into effect on January 1. While the program is aimed at fighting climate change and rewards businesses that reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, smaller growers who emit less than 10,000 tonnes of Co2 have seen their heating costs almost double over the last three months.
CAN (ON): Suntech Greenhouses pulls plug on LEDs over hydro costs
Ottawa greenhouse grower SunTech Greenhouses is about to shut off its million-dollar LED lighting system this winter over hydro costs. Two years ago, Suntech installed the LED lighting system to grow produce year round. After doing the math, owner Bob Mitchell recently told CTV News that he has decided not to flip the switch.
Russia: 200 kg of cucumbers per square meter at Lipetsk Agro
Over the past few years, Lipesk Agro in Russia has invested heavily in technology. They use Kubo Ultra-Clima greenhouses and Gavita lighting fixtures to realize record yields. At their Lipetsk production location Lipetsk Agro grows under 230W of HPS per square meter, which is a very high intensity.
Dmitry Lashin, Lipesk Agro:
"We broke the Russian tomato record, and will do the same for cucumbers"
‘If we don’t do it, someone else will do it tomorrow,’ is the motto of the young Russian entrepreneur Dmitry Lashin. And so he constantly expands his activities. From developing and selling climate computers for greenhouses to growing in his own greenhouses.
The never-ending story of a Spanish greenhouse on the British Virgin Islands:
Spend $6 million on a greenhouse project, and leave it vacant....
Yes, projects often get delayed due to lack of funds, bureaucracy or other unexpected obstacles. But a multi-million dollar greenhouse project on the British Virgin Islands takes the cake. Over the last decade, the gigantic Paraquita Bay greenhouse project has produced more news items and discussion than vegetables.
Vietnamese investments talk of town at Horti Asia
Building a market takes time. And after 5 years, the Horti Asia is reaping the benefits of what it has sown. Also the combination with the concurrent VIV livestock event has turned out to give a positive impulse to the 5th edition of the Bangkok conference.