"Automation a hot item in North American cultivation"

Last week, Koppert Machines supplied a new radish bunching machine to Grimmway Farms in California. The Central Valley company is best known for its carrots, but also grows 65 other products, including radishes, all year round. This is sold under the label Cal-Organic. "It is fantastic to see those endless…

Packing urban cultivated leafy greens

Vertical farming is based on the idea of growing more food in less space, regardless of weather, wind, and changing seasons. It is also the idea behind Urban Oasis – a young and forward-thinking company based in Stockholm. The vision is to deliver healthy and sustainable food to people, right where they…

Are you a grower or a drycleaner?

The employees at Prominent Innovation Center Groeneweg had been wearing company clothing for some time. "A professional in-house laundrette was even set up at a number of locations," says Cornelis de Rijke, General Manager. "At first it seemed a complex project to me, but when I realised that this way we…

Cucumber Man increases planth growth with CO2 delivery solution

Toronto based CO2 GRO announces a commercial feasibility of a CO2 Delivery Solutions system at Alberta based greenhouse grower,The Cucumber Man.  The Cucumber Man’s president, Wayne…

"Now is the time to introduce automation technologies to tomato harvesting"

Japanese agritech startup inaho began the development of their tomato harvesting robot in 2020. Four robots have already been manufactured and released; they are currently under operation, collecting feedback from several growers in Japan for further improvements. “Farms and producers across various countries…

Washing more for less for cultivation on water

For years, growers have used washing machines to "simply" rinse floats and get rid of dirt. However, this requires a lot of water. And it is precisely this water consumption that is emphasised by growers who cultivate on water. After all, it is a unique selling point when selling their product, with…

Crop protection with a vacuum cleaner?

People need clean and healthy food and greenhouse-grown vegetables are a very good way of supplying them. This food then has to be protected against a variety of insects that damage either the fruits or the whole plants. Modern growers avoid the use of chemicals and rely on beneficial insects. Micothon…

New GL-D pipe rail trolleys: With an extra touch of R&D

The new Berkvens GL-D models of pipe rail trolleys are the answer to the new regulations imposed by the government. User-friendliness and security are paramount. Berkvens would not be Berkvens without the addition of an extra touch of R&D. The innovative design focuses on crop protection and hygiene and…

"Hose-free spraying robot for flexible and efficient working"

An essential part of the cultivation process is to keep the crop in optimal condition through the use of protective agents. The products of Berg Hortimotive including the Meto spray robots, both automatic and manual, simplify crop protection. Growers like to keep the aisle free of any hoses to continue…

Dutch students developing broccoli harvesting robot

In February 2021, two students from the Dutch Inholland University of Applied Sciences started their graduate internships for the so-called Smart Farming Broccoli project.…

"It is good to see the area is moving upwards"

Not only the bell peppers are growing well at Noorland Paprika, the company itself is also growing fast. Last year, the company expanded with 2.5 ha to cultivate green bell peppers. That expansion also required an adjustment in the cultivation process. In recent years, the trend with Noorland is to work…

Construction machines for the highest of greenhouses

This year, PDI invested in new construction machines. Due to the heights of the modern greenhouses and the speed of installing the screens, more and better machines were needed. To install very efficiently the screens in the 12.80 m and 12.00 m greenhouses, a massive machine has been bought. This machine…

"Blueberry yield improved because of hydrogen peroxide generation"

The Huelva region in southern Spain is an important area for agriculture. Dry soil and a warm climate, combined with the use of organic fertilizer, can be challenging for growers, however. A 24-hectare blueberry plantation in Huelva, part of an organization producing high quality organic berries, turned…

On the road to precision biological control

Koppert Biological Systems' newest application tool – Natutec Drive – is now being used by growers in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands. Demo trials are currently being set up in Germany, France and the US. Koppert Biological Systems now has three different versions of Natutec Drive that take care of…

Water treatment system eliminates excess sodium in irrigation water

Implementation of the Water Framework Directive in 2018 imposed limits to Dutch growers for discharging drain water into sewers and surface water. But, as the amount of sodium will build up, constant recirculation of irrigation water is simply not an option. An issue that is also increasingly occurring…

Lehmann Germany: Natur opts for Natural Branding

The latest Natural Branding installation, NB 12003 from EcoMark, was put into operation for the first time in Germany in November 2020. Despite the corona crisis, lehmann natur and EcoMark succeeded in establishing Natural Branding on a large scale in the Lower Rhine region. In doing so, lehmann natur…

More efficient repackaging of small packaging with one machine

For processors of onions, carrots or potatoes in small packages from 250 grams to 3 kilos in bags or nets, automation can make the difference. These producers often deliver custom work to their customers and therefore have to deal with a wide range of packaging options or different product carriers. “As…

Study on development of an integrated greenhouse control three-device robotic system

The control of large greenhouse installations, especially those with hydroponics crops, is based on the analysis and use of data recorded by many sensors. At the same time, the size of such installations does not allow for their effective terrestrial surveillance, to detect problems promptly. In recent…

Getting your deck cleaner through the winter without any damage

With more than 30 years of experience and almost 1000 installations worldwide, they know how and what to do at Besseling Techniek. The machines are used year-round, to clean for more light output or to coat for additional protection. Machines always need their maintenance, but with a cold winter on the…

Abisola Olusanya

"There is opportunity for women in agriculture"

Abisola Olusanya is a tenacious and result-oriented professional with almost 10 years of professional experience in leadership roles. She’s been at the forefront of executing strategies towards food security, SME inclusion, growth and profitability within a sustainable ecosystem. "Being a man or woman…