At Berry Hill in Jalisco, Mexico, consecutive record-breaking strawberry harvests have been achieved through a data-led, plant-focused approach rather than changes in fertiliser or seasonal conditions. Ignacio Castillo, engineer and director at Berry Hill, manages a 12-hectare production facility split evenly between organic and conventional strawberries. "We want to deliver a healthy fruit to the market and to the people—and also take care of nature," Castillo explains, highlighting the farm's commitment to pesticide-free cultivation.
Producing strawberries in Jalisco presents significant challenges. While abundant sunlight supports growth, high temperatures and humidity create ideal conditions for pests and diseases. To address these risks, Berry Hill partnered with Plant Empowerment and technical consultant Mark van der Werf, adopting the Plant Health Program and its data-driven methodology.
Van der Werf notes that pests and diseases require three conditions to thrive: presence of the organism, a favourable environment, and a susceptible host plant. While Berry Hill uses physical barriers such as insect netting and biological controls to reduce pest entry, the primary focus has been strengthening the plant itself. The Plant Empowerment philosophy emphasizes balancing a plant's energy, water, and assimilates to enhance its natural resilience.
This approach is formalized through the Plant Health Circle framework, which treats pests and diseases as indicators of systemic imbalance rather than isolated threats. When a plant's energy, water, and nutrient uptake are synchronized with its environment, it becomes less vulnerable to stress and pest pressure—a principle described by the team as "health through harmony."
© Plant Empowerment
Implementation at Berry Hill has involved targeted technical interventions. Climate and air circulation were improved through ClimaFlow fans and Svensson Luxous 1547 D FR climate screens, maintaining leaf humidity at levels that reduce fungal risk. Digital control via Hoogendoorn's IIVO system allows precise, incremental climate adjustments to avoid plant stress. Nutritional strategies were optimized by adjusting calcium and potassium ratios, reducing nitrogen, and increasing silica and trace elements to enhance natural pest resistance. Water quality was improved with a Van der Ende Group reverse osmosis system to address high sodium chloride levels in the local supply.
The results have been measurable. Shifting from reactive to proactive, data-driven management has doubled Berry Hill's strawberry production for two consecutive years. In addition to increased yield, fruit size, leaf colour, and overall plant vigour have improved. Castillo observes, "Just applying the principles of Plant Empowerment has made a huge impact in what we are doing right now – bigger [fruit] sizes, more production. It looks brighter year by year."
Berry Hill's experience demonstrates that integrating plant health principles with technical precision can transform greenhouse operations, enabling high performance without relying on pesticides or intensive chemical inputs.
For more information:
Plant Empowerment
www.plantempowerment.com
