In 2014 EACEA has been involved in the construction of more than 30 hectares of greenhouses in Brazil, from low to medium tech. This shows how fast the greenhouse market in this country is developing. “And these are only projects that my consulting company was involved in. It was mostly low and medium tech tomato greenhouses,” says Andrés da Silva of EACEA.
To introduce the Brazilian growers to the more high tech side of greenhouse cultivation, EACEA is realizing a training centre between Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro. “It’s a small scale technical greenhouse for technological demonstrations,” Da Silva adds. “We choose the location between Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro first of all because of the climate. Also logistically this area is very interesting. It shows small scale and medium scale farmers the potential to improve their productivity with new technology.” According to Da Silva, the training centre will be similar to the one of CEICKOR in Mexico, an organization that he and the Brazilian entrepreneurs have visited several times "Only ours will be a bit smaller."
The Future EACEA TRAINING CENTER GREENHOUSE in Cunha/SP/Brasil (180 km from Sao Paulo city)It's a 1,300 m2 hybrid tunnels (Haygrove Tecnology) greenhouse. It will open in January 2015 and the first Greenhouse Tomato Production Immersion course is scheduled for February 2015
This year EACEA is taking a mixed group of Brazilian entrepreneurs and suppliers to Mexico to visit the Expo AgroAlimentaria. A visit to a selection of state-of-the art greenhouses is also on the agenda. “This year we have a completely new group. Not only growers, but also suppliers of seeds, fertilizers and greenhouse equipment will join us. On Wednesday 12th the group will be at the EXPO and during the rest of the week the group, supported by companies like HARNOIS, PRIVA and NORTH AMERICAN ALLIED, will visit several operations around Queretaro and Irapuato area as Agropark, Ceickor and Koppert. This year we included a low tech visit on farms with high tunnels with HAYGROVE technology that seems to be an interesting opportunity for Brazilian growers.
The training centre of EACEA
According to Da Silva, the Brazilian growers are looking up against the Mexican development. He sees big changes for Mexico to adapt the technology and to take advantage of the opportunities in fast growing markets such as organic produce. “Three of our customers are investing a lot in organics. It’s something very interesting for Brazil,” explains Da Silva. Next week, EACEA promotes together with AGRISYS the first Greenhouse Organic Tomato Production Course in Holambra/SP/BRAZIL.
Brazilian growers exploring the possibilities of a Priva unit during the study tour to Mexico last year.
According to Da Silva, greenhouses are still often affiliated with ornamental production in his country “Greenhouse flowers are still covering the largest part of the greenhouse industry in Brazil. We have more greenhouses that cultivate flowers than vegetable greenhouses. For now, because we definitely foresee a shift. ”Most of these flower greenhouses are concentrated in Sao Paulo state and, according to Da Silva, the most important trend in this market is not that it’s growing in acreage but it’s consolidating. “Small family farms are closing and the biggest growers are getting even bigger. Especially the rose and tropical flower production is growing really fast.”
This year, suppliers, growers and other entrepreneurs have the possibility to catch up with the group. Da Silva invites growers and companies and suppliers that are interested to meet the Brazilian Team for a Cocktail at Hotel Mirage in Queretaro, Mexico, on 11th November from 19h00 to 21h00 - please send CONFIRMATION before 10th November to andresdasilva@live.ca
More info: www.eacea.com.br