In 2025, UK soft fruit specialist Hall Hunter Partnership used Moleda's Plant Sauna as a response measure after leaf nematodes were identified in a delivery of strawberry plants. The system applies aerated steam at controlled temperatures to produce clean planting material without the use of chemicals. "The plants have shown increased vigour, strong yields, and we have not observed nematode issues since," says William Hosking, Operations Director. "It is a valuable tool for maintaining plant health and reducing risks to yield."
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Premium product
The team at Hall Hunter grows strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries across three farms located in Berkshire and Surrey, UK. As the company focuses on growing a premium product, they stay as far away as possible from using chemical crop protection. "Our focus is on sustainable, non-chemical solutions wherever possible," says William.
Thus, after identifying leaf nematodes in a batch of strawberry plants delivered in 2024, they looked for a non-chemical solution, and preferably one pre-planting. That
© Moleda's where the Moleda Plant Sauna came in.
"By applying a special temperature treatment using aerated steam to slightly tease strawberry plants and stems, it is possible to produce disease-free plant material without chemicals", says Jakob Aubell, CEO at Moleda. He explains the treatment sequence begins with one hour of aerated steam at 37°C, followed by a one-hour cooling period. "Depending on the fungus, pest or bacteria targeted, the second treatment consists of a 2 to 4 hour treatment of 42-44 degrees."
The technique is rapidly growing in popularity—currently, more than 60 units are installed across almost all continents, from North America and Europe to Australia, Africa, and Asia. Moleda is in the process of installing another 30 units at various existing and new client sites.
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Practical and ready for planting
With three treatments done per day and a pallet containing approximately 4.000 plants, the Hall Hunter team treated all 500,000 plants using two Moleda plant saunas. "The process was practical, and the plants came out healthy and vibrant, ready for immediate planting," William says.
And, most important, the sauna treatment successfully eliminated the nematode problem - the team has not observed nematode issues since. "Beyond nematode control, the plants have shown improved resistance to mildew, a more uniform crop, and a reduction in the number of sprays required," William continues. "While nematodes were identified early this time, steaming all plants could be used proactively in future to eliminate any potential problems before plants are taken to the fields. It is a valuable tool for maintaining plant health and reducing risks to yield."
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Improved plant vigour© Moleda
Since it's a complete match with their goal to minimize the use of chemicals, they also plan to continue using the Plant Sauna in the future. "As improved plant vigour and disease resistance have allowed us to reduce spraying, using the sauna aligns with our goal of minimizing chemical use and opting for more sustainable, non-chemical crop protection, while protecting our crop quality."
He even believes wider adoption by propagators could be beneficial in the future, particularly as a proactive measure. "We are also exploring steaming trays and pots that are used in the growing process and come into contact with plant material as an additional proactive measure to prevent disease spreading among our crops."
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