Seed meets Technology is all about innovations in seed and coating technology, breeding support, sustainable crop protection, cultivation systems and choice of varieties. The organisers of Seed meets Technology are Incotec, Seed Processing Holland, Proeftuin Zwaagdijk and LEBA. Together with twelve other companies in the seed sector they showcased innovative technologies in the exhibition hall. There were also demos of varieties outside, as well as samples of sustainable crop protection and hydroponics.
That the Netherlands stands at the forefront when it comes to seeds and propagation material is clear given the large number of international visitors, which included professionals in the seed industry, resellers of seeds and related products and large growers. Additionally, the programme proved particularly interesting for seed technologists, operators and crop specialists. Furthermore, Seed Valley invited several groups of students for a tour. Photos and videos can be found on the website.
A symposium called "Hydroponics" was organised on 24 September as part of Seed meets Technology, attended by around 100 people. Joyce Scrap, innovation manager of Hessing Supervers, opened it with a presentation on the prospects and properties of products grown on water. Maurice van der Knaap, of Cultivation Systems, and Jan Botman, of Botman Hydroponics, gave a lecture on the cultivation systems that they developed for hydroponic cultivation. The fourth speaker was the researcher Matthijs Blind, of Proeftuin Zwaagdijk, who addressed essential cultivation aspects. After the lectures, those in attendance were taken for a visit to the 'hydroponics' demo plantation at Proeftuin Zwaagdijk.
Soon, the organisers will evaluate the results and decide whether a second Seed meets Technology will be organised next year. The event is a technological complement to the open days at different seed companies on week 39. Visitors, both national and international, have access to a full programme.
www.seedvalley.nl