The roots of the plants are hanging in the air. Nutricients, needed for the growth, are directly sprayed under the roots. This way a one hectare greenhouse equipped with the CombaSystem would be able to produce 750 tons of salad per year.
The recently installed pilot greenhouse is 5,000 sqm. From the location in Châteauneuf-sur-Loire, French retail and foodservice markets will be supplied with fresh salads and herbs.
The greenhouse is an initiative from CombaGroup and Les Crudettes . Les Crudettes is the French leader in bagged salads, CombaGroup is a Swiss agro-technology company active in aeroponic solutions.
Since 2013, CombaGroup has developed an innovative technological solution for growing healthy, pesticide-free salads and aromatic herbs. Its pilot greenhouse is installed in Molondin (Vaud, Switzerland). Since mid-February their first commercial greenhouse has been operational in Châteauneuf-sur-Loire (France). Comprising 5,000 sqm, it will supply French retail and foodservice markets.
To celebrate the launch of this first commercial project with Les Crudettes and to share further information about the partnership and the project, CombaGroup will host an event at Châteauneuf-sur-Loire (France) on 2 April. Over here the CombaGroup's Mobile Aeroponics will be presente. "This solution of soilless agriculture in controlled-environment greenhouses reduces water consumption by 97 per cent and makes it possible to avoid any use of pesticides and phytosanitary treatment (including biological)", the team with CombaGroup explains. "Our farming system is committed to delivering the vegetables of the future with sustainably produced agriculture that benefits both the environment and consumers." To achieve this, nutrients necessary for the natural growth of plants are directly sprayed under the roots.
Mobile Aeroponics
"The CombaSystem™ contains two key innovative elements: mobile aeroponics, which is the automated spraying of a nutritive mist on roots hanging in the air, and space optimisation thanks to growing plates that move according to the stages of development of the product”, says Serge Gander, CEO of CombaGroup.
"As an innovation in innovation, this mobile and evolutionary system with additional faster harvest facilitation, immediately attracted the attention of French customer Les Crudettes, convincing them to implement the first CombaSystem™ greenhouse in France."
“The lettuce production and demonstration greenhouse located in Châteauneuf-sur-Loire is coupled to our bagging facilities, will allow us to deliver the freshest products possible to our customers”, says Thierry Dubois, General Manager of Les Crudettes.