Expansion thrift at the start of 2018

We've published quite a few articles on expansions at the beginning of the year. Remember Agrokultura & Beekenkamp? But there was more going on. Cannabis, for example, entered Europe when Danish tomato grower Alfred Pedersen announced a new joint venture. Here's a recap - also recalling the tornado that destroyed 200 hectares of greenhouses in Spain. 

Agrotech Didam has started the fourth phase of 27 ha 
Russia: Agrokultura Group to expand again
The Russian Agrokultura Group is expanding again. This year, a 27 hectare high-tech greenhouse will be built in the Moscow region. Agrotech Didam B.V. has signed the contract for the delivery. The building and construction partner of Agrotech Didam B.V. is PCF Greenhouse Technologies LTD from Moscow.

China: PE- and F-clean combination in 3.9 ha project 
In the Chinese Anshun region a 3.9 hectare greenhouse project is currently being realised. In four segments: lettuce, strawberries, vegetables and young plants will be grown year round. 

NL: Second phase of new Beekenkamp propagation facility completed 
Three months earlier than planned, Beekenkamp has officially finished the new propagation facilities in ‘s-Gravenzande. The now 90,000 square meters with greenhouses will be filled with young vegetable plants from Beekenkamp.

Denmark: Tomato grower Alfred Pedersen & Søn in cannabis joint-venture
Aurora has signed a binding term sheet for the formation of a joint venture with Alfred Pedersen & Søn, pursuant to which Aurora will ultimately own a 51% interest in Aurora Nordic Cannabis A/S, the joint venture company, which is based in Odense, Denmark. 

El Eljido
Spain: Tornado destroys 200 hectares of greenhouses
A tornado demolished a severe amount of greenhouses inEl Eljido, Spain, last Saturday. First estimates suggest of an acreage of 200 hectare being damaged and demolished. Photos and videos of the tornado show complete coverages being torn apart.

Growers testify on weather damage
"I saw the tornado coming straight at me"
The first days of 2018 have been heavy ones. The tornado in Spain demolished two hundred hectares of greenhouses. It happened only three days after a storm in the Netherlands, where the 180 damage reports mostly came from the horticultural industry. So far the damage is 50 million euros in total.

Photo report: International Soft Fruit Conference
With 760 visitors from over 40 countries, the International Soft Fruit Conference, held yesterday in Den Bosch, Netherlands, was the meeting point of the soft fruit growing world.