Announcements
Job Offers
- Greenhouse Director of Production - Center Moriches (NY) USA
- Head Grower Cannabis - Reading, Southern England
- Global Product Manager - Northeast Ohio area
- Produce Sales Representative - Remote/Surrounding Los Angeles area
- Managing Director - Leamington (Ontario) Canada
- Territory Manager - Brazil/South America
- Manager Operations (MT-member), USA
- Head of Growing | Cannabis | Staffordshire, England
- Farm Manager - Central Region Saudi Arabia
- Product Development Specialist Tomato - ‘s Gravenzande, Westland, The Netherlands
"Tweeting Growers"
Top 5 -yesterday
- How the Dutch tomato market got to know (and live with) ToBRFV
- First 'Neder Bananen' end up as eclair and beer
- “There’s a foreseeable future with hydroponics in every home”
- Field tests show that USAF ultrasonic transmitters combat waterborne ToBRFV
- Turkey: Breeders and suppliers show innovations at GrowTech
Top 5 -last week
- “Our program trains students to become professional hydroponic growers"
- New insect control technology launched for wide variety of pests
- "M&A activities in horticultural industry illustrate that it's a strong market"
- Putting strawberries on your table a month early
- How the Dutch tomato market got to know (and live with) ToBRFV
Top 5 -last month
- “Our program trains students to become professional hydroponic growers"
- US (VA): New $17 million hydroponics greenhouse officially opened
- Converting a cannabis greenhouse to a strawberry facility
- Dehumidified air as an answer to high energy costs
- Does ginger extract work as an alternative to thrips control in hydroponic lettuce?
Monday, November 29, 2021
Photo report: Growtech Antalya 2021
An aerial photo of the Antalya Province, located in the south west of Turkey, shows greenhouses as far as you can see; smaller and bigger, low-tech and high-tech greenhouses, growing tomatoes, peppers, flowers like carnations, and exotic products like bananas and dragon fruit. It is no wonder Growtech,…
"Producing a kilo of tomato costs 75 to 80 cents but is only sold for 55 cents"
More than 500 Spanish fruit and vegetable producers request aid
More than 500 farmers in the fruit and vegetable sector, mainly from Almeria, gathered last week in front of the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and…
Productizing AI – embedding your model
When productizing AI, there are numerous challenges you can encounter, such as how to apply your AI model to a process or people, stabilizing data and models, how to keep your model accurate in changing environments and over time, scaling, and how to grow or augment the capabilities of your AI model. Embedding…
J. Barichello et al.
Stable semi-transparent solar modules and panels for greenhouse application
Scientists are driven to research green and smart solutions in terms of the use of renewable energy sources and low polluting technologies. In this framework, photovoltaic (PV) technology is one of the most worthy of interest. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are innovative PV devices known for their…
Fruit Logistica postponed to 5-7 April 2022
The fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic is worsening the situation in many European countries. At the same time, the industry's wish to meet in person remains unwaveringly…
Fortuna Frutos turns 40
Canary Island tomato specialist expands client base and range
Fortuna Frutos is celebrating. This week, 40 years ago today, Ger Slobbe opened his own sales office for a few Canary Island tomato suppliers, which was still called Fortuna Fruits Continental back then. Slobbe chose to have his own office in the Netherlands, so he could have a better handle on quality…
UFV
CAN: Horticulture student experiences both loss and hope in the aftermath of flood
Gagan Khakh traveled by tractor the first time he returned to his family’s farm on the Sumas Prairie after being evacuated 48 hours earlier. A truck wouldn’t have cut it. Catastrophic flooding had not only forced road closures in all directions but had also displaced hundreds of farmers and residents in…
Can electricity be used to reduce water hardness in hydroponics?
Beginning hydroponic growers are faced with large amounts of information when first getting started, which can pose a significant barrier to entry. One such product claim, which has found its way to the Iowa Supreme Court, involves a non-chemical process called electromagnetic water treatment (EWT).…
CPMA disappointed about trade show overlap with Fruit Logistica Berlin
After a 2-year hiatus due to Covid, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) is very much looking forward to holding an in-person event in Montreal from April 5-7, 2022. These dates were secured a few years ago, and for many years, the organization’s annual event has been held this time of year.…
Netled
Finland vegetable producer expands operations with hybrid lighting solution
Tamsin is expanding its operations by roughly 0.5 hectares. The new growing area is lit with a hybrid lighting solution developed by Netled that comprises 50% Netled Overhead 550W LED luminaires and 50% 1000W High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) lamps. Tamsin already has roughly 2 hectares of land under…
ToBRFV in Saudia Arabia & Iran
In Iran, symptoms resembling those of tomato brown rugose fruit virus were first observed in August 2021 in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) grown in a greenhouse in Isfahan province. The plants had been grown from imported seed. The identity of the virus was confirmed by RT-PCR. All plants were removed and destroyed In…
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Chatham greenhouse gets $90K fine for industrial accident
A Chatham greenhouse where a young woman was critically injured in an industrial accident almost two years ago has been fined nearly $90,000 after pleading guilty to charges contrary to the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Crown Attorney Judy Chan said Truly Green failed to provide information,…
NL: Dry fog helps to deliver fair priced and high-quality produce
“I was inspired by what I saw myself in the Amazon, how orchids grow in a natural dry-mist, and I wanted to apply that to food,” says Laurens Trebes, Founder and CEO of UrbanPonics. “I found the way horticulture is going now, with tasteless products that are pumped full of water, shocking, and I wanted…
No more emissions in the greenhouse thanks to electric crop rotation
What is the trend in crop rotation? Rob van den Berg of Weterings Machinery does not have to think long about the answer to this question: "Electrification. By using electricity instead of fuel, there are no emissions in the greenhouse. The plants suffer from emissions, which does not help their…
"Pay extra attention to water quality during crop changeover"
The crop changeover in greenhouse horticulture is in full swing again. This is invariably the moment for Glastuinbouw Nederland and the water boards to once again draw attention to water quality during crop rotation. The water used for cleaning can contain nutrients and crop protection agents and should…
"Clean glass leads to increased production and reduced energy consumption"
During a considerable part of the year, crops can use all the natural light they can get. The principle that then applies is 1% more light = 1% higher production. This is when a thoroughly clean greenhouse really pays off. Any greenhouse will get dirty over time. Algae, dust, soot, sand, and residues of…
Today on social media more »
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Greenhouse expansion projects more »
Gaby Miodownik, CEO of Netafim:
"M&A activities in horticultural industry illustrate that it's a strong market"
In March 2021, Israeli irrigation manufacturer Netafim acquired Dutch turnkey greenhouse projects provider Gakon. The official new name and logo have been announced, and it was time to sit down with Gaby Miodownik, CEO of Netafim, to discuss the plans of Gakon Netafim and the developments they see in the…
Cultivation more »
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China: Expansion of 2 multi-span hydroponic greenhouses underway
On November 13, the main body of the expansion of two multi-span greenhouses in the Yuzhong County Kangyuan Modern Agriculture Park, Central China, was completed. These two new greenhouses will serve as experimental bases for hydroponic vegetable planting, which will further improve the quality of summer…
Technique more »
Optomni
Australian supply chain optimization platform set for major fresh produce pilot
A Queensland fresh produce company is set to trial an emerging digital trading and supply chain optimization platform, which is hoped to boost operations and productivity. OmniOrder will aim to allow Qualipac to easily manage inventory at batch level, take orders digitally with a trading app, and…
Company News more »
Peri-urban biosecurity focus for vegetable growers in Australia
In the Australian spring 2021, the AUSVEG-facilitated Peri-Urban Biosecurity Program held three workshops to update vegetable growers on current pest and disease threats, as well as provide biosecurity advice and discuss the latest R&D activities in this space. The AUSVEG-facilitated Peri-Urban Biosecurity…
Italy pays tribute to its crops by issuing stamps dedicated to 15 food products
On 20 November 2021, the Italian Ministry of Economic Development issued fifteen stamps dedicated to protected origin designation fruit and vegetables. The stamps have a price of €0.25. Stamp characteristics The stamps have been printed by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato SpA, in white, neutral coated, self-adhesive, non-fluorescent rotogravure paper; weight: 90 g/sqm; support: white, one-sided, 80 gsm Kraft paper; adhesive: water-based acrylic type, distributed in quantities of 20 gsm (dry); sheet size 40 x 48 mm; print size: 38 x 46 mm; tracing size: 47 x 54 mm; perforation: 9 made by die-cutting; colors: six. The print edition is of 100,000 sheets,…
Vertical Farm Systems secures $55 million contract with Canadian grower
“We’ve been working on this deal for 2-3 years to get the right solution for the growers. We’re now on our way to delivering by June next year,” says John Leslie, executive director and design engineer at Vertical Farm Systems, an agtech provider based in Queensland, Australia. Vertical Farm Systems was…
AUSVEG continues strategic partnership with Bayer
Bayer has reaffirmed its support for the Australian vegetable industry by continuing its Strategic Partnership with AUSVEG, which continues to deliver benefits for Australian growers. This partnership, which was first signed in 2009 and has been renewed regularly for more than a decade, helps the two…
Grower in the Spotlight more »
LaManna Premier Group CEO Anthony Di Pietro
"When you see your glasshouse washing down the main street of Mildura, then you know you’ve got a problem"
LaManna Premier Group CEO Anthony Di Pietro has been featured in the AgJournal of the Australian publication Weekly Times, which visited the company's Lancaster Farms greenhouse tomato growing operations. During Covid, LaManna battled to get the massive amounts of fruit and vegetables it grows on its own…
Crop Protection more »
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Bees deliver organic fungicide to crops while pollinating flowers
Sustainable farming technology company Bee Vectoring Technology (BVT) has created a natural fungicide powder that eliminates mold on growing fruits. The preventative measure is delivered by bees doing what they do best – pollinating flowers. They take it directly to the flower, rather than spreading it…
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Biocontrol: How strawberry growers are leading the way
According to Dr. Surendra Dara of the University of California Cooperative Extension, 90-95% of strawberry growers in California use predatory mites to manage two-spotted spider mites. But how did this pest control method get so widely adopted? What can growers of other crops learn from this experience? Lane…
Market Information more »
The EU soil mission and relevant research
"Over 60% of all European soils are in an unhealthy state. Unsustainable soil management practices, growing population pressure, changes in consumption patterns, and climate…
Kees Havenaar, Frutas Luna:
"Peppers and mini cucumbers positive exceptions of 'dead' Spanish greenhouse vegetable market"
It is, by no means, crazy on the Spanish greenhouse vegetable market at the moment, says Kees Havenaar of Frutas Luna in the Netherlands. "Trade has been completely dead for…
Photo by Jesse Winters / Reuters
"B.C. floods stress the need of rethinking the food system"
Since the devastating floods in the Fraser Valley, the market has been an island surrounded by flooded roads. The area around it is under an emergency order. The past week’s events have made the vulnerabilities in B.C.’s food system glaringly obvious – weaknesses that exist not just in B.C., but across…
Energy more »
'Serious game' for growing cucumbers energy-efficiently to be launched in January
In January, the Business Unit Greenhouse Horticulture and Flower Bulbs of Wageningen University & Research will launch 'Kassim the game', a 'serious game' for the cultivation of cucumbers. The game teaches the user to produce as many cucumbers as possible as energy-efficiently as possible. That is why…
Fertilizers more »
Bhutan to have its first bio-fertilizer company soon
Bhutan will soon have its first bio-fertilizer company at Athang gewog in Wangdue. To implement the initiative, the Farm Machinery Corporation Limited (FMCL) and B&B Korea signed a memorandum of understanding recently in Thimphu. The joint venture is a business idea committed to fulfilling the nation’s…
Breeding more »
"European collaboration on Plant Genetic Resources is missing opportunities"
A recent paper in the scientific journal ‘Plants’ analyses the current collaboration between genebanks in Europe. The paper was jointly written by the head of the CGN plant genebank, the secretary of the European Cooperative Program for Plant Genetic Resources (ECPGR), and the former coordinator of the…
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Nigeria: Seed company unveils hybrid seed varieties to growers
As part of an effort to strengthen and further diversify the vegetable sector, a firm, East-West Seed, Nigeria has unveiled new hybrid seed varieties to increase farmers’ yield. The hybrid varieties include tomato, pepper, pumpkin, watermelon, and pawpaw. Speaking at the product launch, Exhibition and Seed Fair…
Product Info more »
Aerospring Hydroponics:
“There’s a foreseeable future with hydroponics in every home”
“Aerospring’s mission is to make fresh produce accessible to everyone by creating versatile and efficient hydroponic products that can be used in homes and commercial settings,” explains Mark Newton, chief operating officer at Aerospring Hydroponics. Aerospring Hydroponics is a Singaporean agtech company…
Substrates more »
Nextevo
Eco startup works with farmers to process coconut husk waste into sustainable alternative to peat moss
Following the launch of its sustainable textile products made from pineapple leaf waste, NEXTEVO announces its development towards processing coconut husk waste into sustainable materials by Q2 2022. NEXTEVO has formed an exclusive partnership with Sambu Group, a coconut products manufacturer, to process…
Post-harvest & Packaging more »
Neil Ashton - Packaging Automation
"We have the most advanced and market ready tray sealer"
Over the years there have been continued calls from fruit packers for faster, more efficient tray sealing machines and now one UK company has come up with the technology to do this. Packaging Automation has been in the business for close to 60 years and has a lot of experience in designing and…
Food Safety more »
How the Dutch tomato market got to know (and live with) ToBRFV
The abbreviation in the title now needs no explanation in tomato land. Two years after the first official virus discovery in the Netherlands, everyone who grows, breeds, packs, or trades tomatoes has to deal with the tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), either because of an infection in their own…
Events more »
Turkey: Breeders and suppliers show innovations at GrowTech
After a kickoff day that was slightly quieter than usual, the GrowTech show in Antalya, Turkey has been very well visited. The four-day event will last until tomorrow. Top left: the team with Mygos showed their lighting solutions for greenhouses and the vertical farming industry. Top right: Etiper is a new supplier…
Retail more »
Belgium supermarket introduces new crop:
"Greenhouse ginger has a stronger flavor than imported ginger"
In Belgium, CRU is now offering prime fresh ginger on its markets. It is grown locally and sustainably. It is also cultivated pesticide-free and with a minimum of organic fertilizers. The ginger has a stronger flavor than imported ginger. Also, its carbon footprint is kept as low as possible. This prime ginger is…
Labor more »
Australia: Horticulture output holds despite fewer workers
Australian horticultural farm output levels have remained steady despite an eight percent drop in the number of workers employed on farms, research has shown. The Labor use in…
Lighting more »
Signify:
Sharing experiences from GrowWise Center at Vertical Farming Conference
In the 2021 edition of the Vertical Farming Conference, researchers and industry members presented their experiences in vertical farming and research findings aimed at pushing the industry further. Among the presenters was Jarno Mooren, a plant specialist in vertical farming at Signify. Signify conducts…
Irrigation more »
New irrigation unit to be released on GrowTech Antalya
One of the problems generally experienced in irrigation systems in the market is that water and fertilizer cannot be sent to the root zone of the plant at the desired values and thus unbalanced fertilizer distribution is experienced between irrigation periods. The newly developed Pride Irrigation Unit,…
Education and research more »
Dreamstime.com
Quantification of root-knot nematode infestation in tomato using digital image analysis
In certain conditions, the vegetable is susceptible to plant parasites such as the root-knot nematode (RKN; Meloidogyne spp.). A proper detection method is required to…
