"A collaboration like this is unique in our sector"

In December 2019, the greenhouse horticulture sector was introduced to the name Atrium Agri when the Bom Group joined Atrium Agri. It marked the first time that the partnership between the entrepreneurs behind Havecon, VB, and PB tec was made public. Recently, Atrium Agri was in the news again, with the…

Growing tomatoes is not easy at the threshold of 2021

After a dramatic summer, the price of the tomato now seems to be favorable. However, operators in the sector are wondering how long will it last and, above all, if will it be enough to compensate the accumulated losses.  Salvatore Iozzia in a greenhouse with vine tomatoes Salvatore Iozzia, a producer from Vittoria…

KUBO opens autonomous cultivation pilot Blue Lab

Greenhouse constructor KUBO has opened its own test centre in 's-Gravenzande in the Netherlands: Blue Lab. In two Ultra-Clima greenhouses totalling 1,600 square metres in cultivation area, the Monster-based greenhouse constructor will be testing new concepts in practical circumstances, with respect to…

Iran: Growing saffron in a vertical installation

Iran is responsible for most of the global saffron cultivation and they're proud of being the global supplier of what is known as the most expensive spice in the world. Since it's a super expensive product, there's a lot of interest in ways to increase the production or decrease the loss in growing. You…

Menno van der Haven | Dreamstime.com

CAN (ON): Leamington waits to follow Kingsville’s lead on ‘light pollution’ bylaw

One day after Kingsville’s town council unanimously approved a bylaw to stop light pollution from greenhouses and odours from cannabis production, Leamington’s council voted unanimously to seek more information from growers and the public before considering a light pollution bylaw. Kingsville’s bylaw…

“Our new building should be 20% more efficient”

“After all these years, we were bursting at the seams. We even had to rent three additional locations. We needed sufficient capacity for storing and processing our soft fruit. That brings you to a point where the process is simply no longer efficient,” says Wil Beekers on the phone from BerryWorld’s new…

"We anticipate energy savings of approximately 2.4 to 3.3 kWh per square foot per year"

Candidus was awarded a $683,562 Conservation Innovation (CIG) Grant from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Working in collaboration with NRCS and CEA farmers across the US, the company will implement adaptive lighting control technology in 12 commercial greenhouses in Virginia, Michigan,…

The Greenery auctions first Dutch lit cultivation cucumbers

The Dutch nursery, Qcumber's first cucumbers from lit cultivation, were auctioned yesterday. That was at The Greenery Growers. This year, for the first time, there's an overlap between conventional and lit cultivation at The Greenery. Last year, Qcumber's crop came into production on 27 November. This…

First report of tomato brown rugose fruit virus in the Czech Republic

The NPPO of the Czech Republic recently informed the EPPO Secretariat of the first detection of tomato brown rugose fruit virus (Tobamovirus, ToBRFV – EPPO A2 List) on its…

First Moscow greenhouse cucumbers exported to the European Union

For the first time, cucumbers grown in greenhouses in the Moscow region have been exported to the European Union. Russian news source RIAMO shares this news in an interview with the Moscow region Minister of Agriculture and Food, Andrei Razin.  According to Andrei Razin, this year, new export destinations…

University of South Australia

Australia: Recycled water proves fruitful for greenhouse tomatoes

In the driest state in the driest continent in the world, South Australian farmers are acutely aware of the impact of water shortages and drought. So, when it comes to irrigation, knowing which method works best is vital for sustainable crop development. Now, new research from the University of South…

"Transforming UK horticulture sector through use of Hydrogen-as-an-energy-service"

CambridgeHOK have signed an agreement with London-based Protium Green Solutions to work together and help speed up the decarbonisation of the UK horticultural sector through the increased use of green hydrogen energy solutions. Charlotte Penn & the CambridgeHOK headquarter The move sees two UK based energy…

Agronomy

Increasing growth of lettuce and mizuna under sole-source LED lighting

Light recommendations for horticultural crops often focus on the optimal daily light integral (DLI) without regard to how that light is delivered throughout each day. Because photosynthesis is more efficient at lower photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), we hypothesized that longer photoperiods with…

Chowbotics encourages grocers to ‘Reclaim Your Salad Bar’

While some people fear COVID has pushed salad bars to extinction, Californian company Chowbotics has unveiled new technological developments for its fresh food robot Sally that should allow grocers to reclaim this once profitable area of the store. The Hayward-based Chowbotics company has developed a…

Berry harvest under way with Tassie workers

The harvest of Costa’s Tasmanian berry crop has commenced with a newly recruited Tasmanian workforce. “We are looking forward to the new season and to date we have employed 69 Tasmanians, with another 50 starting next week, from 405 local applications,” said Costa Tasmanian Regional Manager, Cameron…

'Horticulture work is really hard at first, but there's decent money in it'

Robert Doig spent three months pruning vines in Canterbury to take a break from his usual job as an auto industry sparkie. The 31-year-old Cantabrian said he earned decent…

Canary Islands tomato and cucumber exporters will be compensated for their transport aid

After discussing the consequences of the United Kingdom's departure from the EU in the Commission for Affairs Related to the European Union (CARUE), the Vice President of the…

Dutch delegation checks up on high-tech agriculture in China

Last week was a busy week for the China (Agri) network. Consul General Koen Sizoo, agricultural counselor Wouter Verhey, and agricultural advisor Xizhe Hu visited fairs, companies, and science institutes and organized many activities in Shaanxi and Yunnan province. From October 22nd until 26th, the Dutch…

"Supermarkets given opportunity to predict turnover per location with up to 90% accuracy"

"The Belgian-Dutch geomarketing scale-up RetailSonar is well on its way to becoming a European player. Thanks to a new partnership with Geocible, French retailers now also have the opportunity to predict up to 90% accurately the turnover of each location," said the company. RetailSonar currently helps more…

University of Florida

Just how sweet can a tomato be?

When most people eat Florida-grown tomatoes, they’re usually adding it to a salad or sandwich. But to some people, they're apparently good enough to drink too. Sam Hutton is all about tomatoes. A tomato breeder in Hillsborough County, his tomato experience goes way back. “I was a little kid when i started being interested…

University of Florida

New blueberry variety honors benefactor and UF alumnus Alto Straughn

When Patricio Muñoz developed the University of Florida’s newest blueberry variety, he wanted to name the fruit in honor of Alto Straughn, a longtime, strong supporter of UF’s blueberry breeding program. “A ‘sentinel’ is a watcher or guardian,” said Muñoz, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of horticultural…

Solving the ‘local food paradox’ is key to a sustainable agriculture sector

The pandemic has pushed governments to consider food autonomy as a priority and to look more at local supply chains. Discussions are about producing food in Canada,…

"We hope that offering these online resources will put every customer in the driver’s seat"

HydraFiber, the horticultural business of Profile Products, announced the launch of the new digital HydraFiber Resource Library, designed to make it easier than ever for growers and blenders to find information they need to feel confident adopting HydraFiber into their mixes. The Resource Library,…

Square Roots

New compound from blueberries could treat inflammatory disorders

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), caused by chronic inflammation in the digestive tract linings, can be debilitating and life threatening. Therapeutic options include…

Is this the drive-through supermarket of the future?

What will the supermarket of the future look like? That's something many people are considering. But, there's not yet any single answer. This animation shows a creative store concept. Who knows? In a few years, you might be visiting a drive-through store like this. 

What's growing in a greenhouse 4000 meters above sea level?

Bailang County, Xigaze City, Tibet, on the Nyang Qu River, has an average altitude of more than 4,000 meters and is a traditional agricultural and animal husbandry county. In the transformation of traditional agriculture to modern agriculture, the Zhufeng Modern Agricultural Technology Innovation Expo…

Ontario growers notice longer tubers during harvesting

According to Ontario potato specialist Eugenia Banks’ October 5 update, in the Canadian province of Ontario, round varieties for both the fresh and processing markets have…

Vietnam strengthens efforts to restore production after floods

Over the last one month, widespread and heavy rains and floods have caused severe damages to both humans and property in the central provinces. According to statistics, during…

Whole Foods Market partners with Infarm

Dutch ecommerce top 6 remain unchangedThe 6 biggest online stores in the Netherlands in 2019 are still the same 6 as in the year before. Bol.com remains the biggest ecommerce player, with a revenue of 2.17bln euros. It’s followed by fellow Dutch companies Coolblue and Albert Heijn. Every year, Dutch…

Canadian Produce Marketing Association honors 2020 Produce Champion

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association has recognized its 2020 Produce Champion: Alistair MacGregor, Member of Parliament for Cowichan–Malahat–Langford and NDP Critic for…

Fresh Summit’s “Best of Show” winners are announced

Produce Marketing Association announced the “Best of Show” awards this week, a Fresh Summit tradition of recognition that celebrates innovation and creativity in marketing and product promotion. This year’s event featured virtual Marketplaces where exhibiting companies could customize and share their own…

"Eupeodes-System – part of powerful new and improved aphid control strategy"

With a strong focus on innovation, Biobest’s new Eupeodes-System is a powerful new addition to its aphid control strategy. Uniquely providing dual ecosystem services - simultaneously controlling aphid infestations and contributing to pollination of several crops - Eupeodes-System is in a category of its…

How far-red light enrichment modulates tomato resistance towards Botrytis cinerea

Red and blue light are the major wavelength which are absorbed by leaf tissue and used for photosynthesis while others, i.e yellow and green light are reflected giving the…

Mexico is the world's leading strawberry exporter

The considerable increase in Mexico's strawberry production over the last decade has positioned the country as the world's leading strawberry exporter. According to official statistics, the cultivated area of strawberries in Mexico grew by 63% between 2011 and 2019. On average, 10,375 hectares were…

New partnership will explore green hydrogen solutions for horticulture in the UK

CambridgeHOK have signed an agreement with London-based Protium Green Solutions to work together and help speed up the decarbonisation of the UK horticultural sector through…

Hort Americas

The role of silicon as a nutrient in hydroponic recipes

Silicon (also known as silica, Si) is found in high quantities in open field production but is absent in hydroponic nutritional recipes. The lack of knowledge about the role of silicon (Si) in horticultural crops became apparent when using soilless / hydroponic systems.  Research has demonstrated that silicon…

Up to 150 cauliflowers per minute cut with new machine

The video below features a cauliflower cutting machine that can cut up to 150 cauliflower per minute. The cauliflower are placed directly from the field onto the conveyor belt of the machine that cuts the product into pieces. The video was produced by Sweere Food Processing Equipment.

"We attach so much importance to social, economic and ecological sustainability"

"Think about tomorrow today, preserve resources for future generations: That is wgat sustainability means." FreshPlaza's visit to K-D Hermann LLC contact Auszeichnungssysteme in the idyllic town of Hirschhorn am Neckar was dedicated to sustainability as well. From the lonely black garbage can, to…

India: Organic farming redefines Kashmir agriculture

In Kashmir, more than 2000 hectares of land are being brought under the cultivation of organic vegetables. The Director of Agriculture for Kashmir, Altaf Aijaz Andrabi, said…

Etihad Cargo launches direct flight between Nairobi and Amsterdam

Etihad Airways is the second-largest airline and flag carrier of the UAE, after Emirates. Its head office is in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, near Abu Dhabi's International Airport. The company commenced operations in November 2003. Etihad Cargo has launched its direct flight between Nairobi and Amsterdam…

EC updates standards for Cucumber mosaic virus in tomato seeds

As published on Monday 26 October in the Official Journal of the European Union (EU), the European Commission (EC) has updated the legislation on measures against the…

Join the first virtual South Holland Hebei Week

South Holland province maintains a government-to-government relationship with the province of Hebei, China, that is explicitly aimed at facilitating mutual…

AVF

Research and indoor farming university network

When the pioneering vertical farms were established around the world, comparatively basic first-generation technology used created relatively inefficient systems compared with today. Although these operations only enabled the most basic functions to occur, they demonstrated how feasible it was to grow…

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