What started as a family business dedicated to the traditional cultivation of tomatoes more than three decades ago has become a benchmark for agricultural innovation in the Ribera Alta region. Javier Monrabal, a member of the Valencian Farmers' Association (AVA-Asaja), and his brother Jorge Monrabal, an agronomist, have taken a firm step towards the future by committing to a hydroponic production system in greenhouses, turning his company into one of the largest producers of hydroponic tomatoes in the whole of the autonomous region.
Since June 2024, their company has implemented an agricultural technology that uses coconut fibre sacks as a substrate instead of ordinary soil and a carefully balanced nutrient solution that allows the plants to absorb all the nutrients without waste. This system optimizes the use of irrigation, soil, and fertilizers, resulting in increased production and a more consistent, standardized, and controlled harvest.
Three production varieties
"The greenhouse's optimal climatic conditions, along with this pioneering system, enable us to extend production more than you could in the open field," stated José Monrabal, one of the brothers in charge of the project. As a result, they're able to work for more months and guarantee greater continuity in supplying the market.
The brothers have already carried out two complete production cycles and are still studying how the system behaves with different varieties. "We are still in a trial-and-error process in the first year of this new stage, after having studied how this system works in other farms in the province of Valencia," he stated.
They are currently growing three tomato varieties: Rosa del Maestrat, Híbrido Óptima, and Valenciano, all of which have excellent hydroponic performance and are subsequently sold in Mercavalencia. This type of production and infrastructure, still uncommon in the Valencia Region, has positioned the family company as the region's hydroponic tomato giant.
Advantages of hydroponics
The most recent studies indicate that using hydroponic systems, a tomato plant can yield 5 to 6 kilograms of fruit per cycle. This is nearly 60% higher than the 2.5 kilograms per plant achieved in traditional soil cultivation. High-tech hydroponic greenhouses can reach yields of up to 70 kilograms per square meter, compared to the 30 kilograms per square meter usually obtained in conventional systems.
Up to 50% in water savings
Compared to other types of irrigation, this system allows water savings of 30% to 50%, thanks to recirculation and the efficient use of nutrients. Another notable advantage is the possibility of shortening production cycles by 20%, which translates into more harvests per year and much more efficient planning.
"It demonstrates that innovation, sustainability, and vision can go hand in hand with agricultural tradition," stated the president of AVA-Asaja, Cristóbal Aguado.
For more information:
For more information:
AVA-Asaja
Email: [email protected]
www.avaasaja.org