Last summer, Provenance Propagation's new greenhouse nursery officially commenced production. Constructed in Wells Crossing, Australia, with the greenhouse in place, the challenge became keeping the nursery, growing area and the actual process of producing seedlings in a clean, hygiene way.
After six months things didn't go quite right at first, Jack Mooney Provenance Director shares. "Hygiene is a crucial part of our business, in retrospect our hygiene protocols were not in order at the start." we have since taken the first steps towards improvement.
Jack Mooney
Netherlands guide country
Whilst Provenance Propagation may be a very young company, Jack himself has been around a lot longer, having developed his propagation skills and techniques over the past 5 years working and managing other seedling propagation facility`s in Australia. Starting his own operation Jack now wants to implement what he has learned and put this into practice. "Definitely knowledge and experiences and following trends and developments from the Netherlands," he tells Rob Beerling, product specialist at Royal Brinkman. Jack recently installed hygiene lock - CleanGate Total. "Since being launched during January 2023, more than 80 CleanGate Total Hygiene Locks have now been installed worldwide. We are delighted that CleanGate Total has been installed at Provenance Propagation our first CleanGate unit installed in Australia," shares Rob.
The Netherlands are leading the way acting as a guide country for Jack when it comes to propagation practices. Not surprisingly, during a visit to the Netherlands last Autumn whilst at a Propagation Solutions plant breeding event, as he has done regularly over the past few years. "I network a lot with fellow companies. While I was in Europe I discovered the CleanGate hygiene station."
Central role hygiene lock
In Australia, Provenance Propagation is active in growing cucumber, pepper and eggplant seedling plants. "We do this organically," he says. All the more important, therefore, to keep the greenhouse clean.
Anyone wanting to enter the greenhouse at Wells Crossing now has to pass through the Royal Brinkman's hygiene lock first. "An important part in the hygiene protocol has been introduced with the installation of the hygiene lock CleanGate Total," Rob points out. "All visitors and staff must pass through the lock when entering the facility."
In the lock, hands are disinfected with Fadex Rapid. Footwear soles are cleaned with Menno Clean. Upon completing this process the turnstile is unlocked and guests/staff can enter cultivation areas. "But not before guests are fitted with disposable suit and hair net," Jack stresses. "Only then are they allowed to walk through."
Additional measures not ruled out
Additional supplementary measures have also been taken within the cultivation area. Transport equipment such as pallet trucks and trolleys travel over disinfection mats from Flexxolutions. Rob: "This ensures wheels are properly disinfected and thus prevent viruses from spreading."
Office staff also enter the office via a disinfection mat to disinfect their footwear here too. Jack: "If the office staff need to visit the greenhouse nursery growing area then they too also should report to the hygiene lock."
To keep disease pressure down at the facility, investments have also been made to keep the irrigation water clean. "We disinfect our water with a UV-C disinfector," he says. "The irrigation system in the brand new greenhouse nursey is kept clean dosing Huwa-San.
Also part of the hygiene protocol is cleaning and disinfecting grow tables, trolleys and other materials with foam using Menno Clean. "In short, for the hygiene protocol, many measures have already been introduced," says Jack, who is happy to have Royal Brinkman as a knowledge partner and total supplier by his side.
Cleaning containers with cleaning agent Menno
Rob: "We are proud of the co-operation with Provenance Propagation. Over time, the Royal Brinkman Australia team and Provenance have built a close relationship based on trust, service and advice. This allows us to understand each other well and come up with smart solutions to the issues at hand. Jack is taking the lead investing in hygiene solutions and establishing protocols creating a hygienic growing environment protecting his beautiful new facility."
"All the steps taken do not take away from the fact that I see the protocol as a living document. Where necessary, additional measures are taken to prevent the spread of viruses and diseases. I am confident about the future," Jack said.
For more information:
Royal Brinkman
info@royalbrinkman.nl
www.royalbrinkman.nl
Provenance Propagation
www.provenancecorp.com