CosMic Plants minimizes energy consumption with IIVO climate computer

In 2020, CosMic Plants was one of the first users of Hoogendoorn's new IIVO process computer. It minimizes energy consumption, says co-founder Neil van Steekelenburg, and helps in greening crop protection. It also optimizes light levels in the greenhouse by combining natural sunlight with screens and…

"Galvanized steel roofs of vital importance for clean water"

"For many applications, a reliable supply of clean water is indispensable. The water needs to meet drinking water standards and/or needs to be free of dirt, debris, contaminants, and bacteria. UV light should be blocked to avoid the growth of algae", says Arjen van Dijk, Director of Water storage at NPI.…

Aqueous CO2 enrichment – what is it, and how can it help you?

The benefits of carbon dioxide enrichment have been well documented for a number of greenhouse crops, with the overall impact being accelerated growth and biomass accumulation. For most growers, adding supplemental carbon dioxide is done by burning natural gas or using compressed liquid carbon dioxide,…

That's one big Ultrafiltration solution

Mienis Water just installed the Ultrafiltration in Leamington, Canada. The 96 m3/h Ultrafiltration that Mienis Water installed is the biggest one in North America in the horticultural environment and will disinfect rain/pond water. "Since water scarcity is a big problem in the Leamington region, the…

Xue Yingying/People's Daily Online

Digital technologies promote flower industry in China’s Yunnan province

Southwest China’s Yunnan province, boasting diverse floral germplasm resources and unique climate conditions, is one of the world’s three major producers of flowers. Each year, 16.7 billion stems of fresh-cut flowers produced in the province are hitting the market. The Kunming Dounan Flower Market in…

Increasing the oxygen levels in irrigation water for a healthier growth

Due to different environmental conditions, the oxygen content of irrigation water can drop to critically low levels, which challenges healthy plant growth. For this reason, EOD Europe has come up with their new oxygen ­finebubble generator, the Nanoboost™ Oxygen Finebubble Generator, which adds and…

Ridder receives 2023 CEA Center Mission Award

Ridder has been selected as one of the recipients of the 2023 Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (CEAC) Mission Award. The CEAC, part of the University of Arizona, annually recognizes individuals, groups, or organizations that exemplify the mission of the center. Ridder was chosen for its…

“The product quality is maintained, ensuring a longer shelf-life”

Perishable Movements K. Ltd. is a mid-sized freight forwarding & logistics company based in Kenya, consisting of 60 employees. The company transports between 50 – 100 tons of produce per day, of which 40% needs to be cooled, such as fresh flowers, herbs & cuttings, and fruits & vegetables. Because of…

Rebranded Stolze Mexico expands into North American market as GROWA

It has been 11 years since Fernando Alfaro and Theo Stolze started Stolze Mexico. Ever since, the company has grown to one of the market leaders in Mexico, with over 60…

"You want to see how much water is in the tank, not how much isn't"

Over the past few years, Aad Verduijn's Tank Level Indicator has made it easier to read water levels in more than 100 water tanks. Not only in the Netherlands; the simple solution is now frequently being used in other countries too. Figuring out how much water is still in the tank is not complicated is it?…

Potted Anthurium in Greenhouse 2030, a whole year without plant protection products

Several crops are grown in the demonstration Greenhouse 2030 with the support of the program 'Kas als Energiebron' (Greenhouse as Source of Energy). The goal is emission-free cultivation: free of CO2 emission from fossil fuels (a fully electric greenhouse), free of water and fertilizer emissions, and…

How growers boost crop yields with greenhouse film EVO AC®

It has been six years since Plastika Kritis launched their EVO AC® film. According to the team, EVO AC, short for Evolution in Anti-Condensation, is the longest-lasting anti-drip film in the polyethylene greenhouse film market. Now that the film has been in use for several seasons, growers see how the…

"The system accurately and consistently places interlocking trays on a pallet"

P&C Automation's palletizing solutions are custom designed to suit clients' requirements. The company recently delivered a palletizing solution to Australian producer Bendotti Avocado. While the system delivered to Bendotti Avocado was designed for palletizing up to two different product types…

Greenhouse horticulture eyes up salt battery

Perhaps more than ever, growers are looking at the energy situation on their farms. This increasingly includes electricity storage in times of high energy prices. For this, growers already know how to find Durable M.E., a specialist in energy storage and battery systems. Yet Jean-Pierre Gödde was…

Rosemary Hardy

Even tho @hardyplants will not be displaying in the grand pavilion @The_RHS Chelsea Flower Show our plants are making an appearance in gardens on main avenue and Hospital way. We are spacing and tidying plants now #Showtime #Flowers #peatfree #preparation pic.twitter.com/q3WOT9Fvf8 — Rosemary Hardy 🌻 (@Rosyhardy62) March 14, 2023

Trial and error in Dutch greenhouse: Can autonomous systems work well together?

In 2021, the Dutch research organization, TNO, introduced GAIA to greenhouse horticulture. They set four years aside to develop the system, which aims to connect autonomous systems being used in greenhouse horticulture. A prototype has been running at Hortivation Foundation participants. "We find this…

A new way of growing with dynamic LEDs

Sollum, a company specializing in dynamic LED solutions, has just released a new whitepaper to shed more light on the benefits and best practices of dynamic LEDs. Sollum's platform allows growers to have multiple lighting zones, each of which can be controlled independently. Thanks to that, growers can…

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Essential oils prolonged the cut carnation longevity

Postharvest characteristics, such as vase life and antimicrobial preservation of commercial cut flowers, are some of the major determinants of their market value worldwide. Extending vase life while restricting microbial proliferation in cut flowers is an important challenge faced by floricultural…

An Italian innovative system for managing hydroponic crops

"Our automated management system can be installed in only a few minutes by simply drilling two holes in the nutrient solution tank to upgrade the greenhouse to become automated and interconnected. Our system stands out for its simplicity, efficiency, and low costs compared to any other technology on the…

© Rechitan Sorin | Dreamstime.com

US (IL): Pennycress crop research continues at Western Illinois University

Farmers might be one step closer to getting a brand-new crop as research continues at Western Illinois University. The winter-growing Pennycress crop is starting to sprout, and researchers took their first flowering measurements Monday. Professor of plant breeding and genetics Dr. Win Phippen said the…

USAF cavitating ultrasonic transmitters now also available in 115 volts

More and more growers are discovering how they can easily render algae, fungi, and viruses harmless in their water systems, namely by placing a USAF ultrasonic transmitter in places where water is stored, such as basins, silos, and drain pits. At the request of growers, there is now also a 115-volt…

Model calculates temperature down to the square centimeter

Sensors measure the temperature in a greenhouse and send it on to the climate computer. But the value of a sensor only applies to the immediate vicinity of the sensor, while the temperature in the greenhouse is usually not homogeneous. Wind, sun, and the crop, among other things, can cause considerable…

"Baseline plant pots as recyclable alternatives to black plant pots"

A more circular economy conserves resources and protects our climate – this has been scientifically confirmed by Pöppelmann Teku®, which specializes in products for commercial horticulture, using its Circular360 closed-loop plant pots. In order to pave the way for even more customers from the green…

"Automatic nutrient measurement is ready to be put into practice"

The first four measurement systems to automatically measure nutrients will be installed at Dutch growers this spring. This puts CE-Line on the eve of the real practical introduction of its measuring equipment. Growers can use it to fertilize much more accurately. Precision fertilization, in other words.…

Kenya Flower Council

In-order to serve our stakeholders effectively, we are happy to inform you that we have moved to a new facility. Our new facility is located Off Ngong Road, 1st left gate, Miotoni Road, KarenPlease, take note of the change & we hope you will get acquainted with our new office pic.twitter.com/BxCzkLVvPa — Kenya Flower Council (@kenyaflower) March…

Changing the cover of a greenhouse without affecting production

The Spanish company J. Huete International has developed a trolley to make the renovation of plastic an effective way while ensuring compliance with all requirements and all requirements in terms of occupational safety and, specifically, that which affects workers at high altitudes. "These types of tools…

AU: Apex Greenhouses welcomes Scott Featherston as Sales Manager

As of January 16, Scott Featherston has started his new role within Apex Greenhouses as Commercial Sales Manager. Folco Faber, Director of Apex, says, "We are experiencing rapid growth as a company. Traditionally, I looked after most of the sales function in Australia myself, but I am very happy I can now…

“Environmental control is the biggest limiting factor at most cultivation facilities”

"Price compression is rendering inadequate cultivation facilities obsolete. Cultivation businesses can no longer operate profitably without tight adherence to temperature, relative humidity, and CO2 set points," says Adrian Giovenco, Co-Founder and CEO of InSpire Transpiration Solutions. The company was…

How to clean seeds without using chemicals

Plasma Activated Water (PAW) can be used to clean seeds from pathogens by only using air, water, and electricity. Together with 14 different well-known seed producers, VitalFluid has been testing over 40 different seed pathogen combinations. The results are looking promising. Seed producers send batches of…

Maintenance-friendly UV sanitizer thanks to 'crossfire' effect

UV disinfection - it is a nice technique, but the service around it can still be tricky, especially when it comes to replacing the lamps. At Tuprotec, in collaboration with Hallett, they have now come up with a solution for this. Tuprotec director Lies van Geest talks about this new invention, the…

New flexible far-red light for application based growing

Heliospectra AB (publ) expands product portfolio, and MITRA platform with MITRA Flex, the market's first available wireless controlled flexible far-red light. The new solutions offer customers three spectra in one without losing power, making it perfect for customizable and application-based growing,…

"Be prepared for the next winter with proactive end-of-season maintenance"

"Whether the common consumer realizes it or not, greenhouses are an important staple to the everyday life of the average American. For some, it's the desire for vegetables and fruits year-round. For others, it's buying flowers to celebrate a special occasion. Neither of these would be possible if…

"4G real-time smart sensor has high communication stability in international transportation"

"In the international cold chain transportation of fresh products, it is particularly important for the follow-up management of products, if the temperature and humidity can be completely recorded and tracked in real-time. For data monitoring products, the stability of communication determines the…

Flowers Canada

Dehumidification technology can help greenhouse growers reduce energy costs

High humidity levels inside greenhouses are a by-product of growing crops indoors. Left uncontrolled, humid air can reduce crop growth and result in poor-quality produce, so growers have traditionally resorted to ventilation to manage the issue. While effective, this strategy also causes heat loss, which…

kitchenGarden

Our favourite part of the job on the nursery is growing plants. These will harden up in the next few days and we will prick them out. The sunshine of late is helpful however a frost this morning makes us realise it’s only February and it’s very early in the season. pic.twitter.com/eXZcoqhVdh — kitchenGarden (@SowMeGrowMe) February 15,…

Plant Products, one year after the acquisition by Biobest

“2022 was a monumental year for Plant Products because we were able to welcome so many new, enthusiastic, and professional colleagues from legacy Biobest-USA and Canada, as well as legacy Plant Products,” says Chris Stickles, President of Plant Products. In February 2022, it was announced that Biobest…

What makes an LA Hybrid, Royal?

Longiflorum Asiatic (LA) Hybrid lilies are one of the workhorses of the cut flower industry. Going back a decade or two, it was just Asiatics and Oriental varieties that dominated the market, but cross-breeding the Longiflorum lilies (commonly known as Easter lilies) with Asiatics created a sturdy lily, available in the…

NL: Climate system installed at plant propagation lab

KP Holland is a renowned family-owned Dutch breeding and propagation company, operating globally. To stay at the forefront of the business, KP Holland has built an innovation laboratory. With it, molecular breeding technologies come within reach. The new lab also creates possibilities for growth in…

New line of data loggers for 4G and 5G network services

It's the peak season for Chilean cherries. With the reopening of the Chinese market, logistics have gradually resumed, and more and more imported cherries have arrived in the domestic market. According to the Chilean Association of Fruit Exporters (ASOEX), the export of Chilean cherries is expected to…

Logiqs modernizes VDE-Plant’s processing room from 1986

Recently, Logiqs modernized the processing room (built in 1986) of VDE-Plant, a tropical plant nursery located in Woubrugge, The Netherlands. "What made this project special was how VDE Plant used the Logiqs' online 3D configurator for designing the mobile bench system for this project, resulting in a…

Agri-tech innovator unveils new iteration of crop insights tool

HarvestEye is set to launch the newest version of its machine-learning-driven root crops insights tool at Fruit Logistica, the world's largest fresh produce trade fair. Fitting to harvesting and grading equipment, HarvestEye is an effective method to deliver performance data on size and count and also…

Greenhouses that tell you how they are doing: Can you imagine?

TNO is working towards remotely monitoring greenhouse performance. Within the Hortivation Foundation, the first two greenhouse growers are gaining experience with Kas Prestatie Monitoring (Greenhouse Performance Monitoring). There are plenty of sensors that generate data on the climate or control, but…

Advantages of burning ornamental grasses

Intentionally setting fire to a landscape can seem counterproductive. But it’s a useful tool for managing forests, prairies, meadows, other grasslands… and now grass liners? Hoffman's Head Grower, Bill Hall, and his growing team recently started burning select trays of our native grasses, Sporobolus…

Robert Quak

Lesson from masterclass: Crop lighting doesn't always work

Two hours in an afternoon were enough to discuss a lot of new interesting insights from sensor data. Some 50 budding horticultural specialists were present. MBO Westland and Sendot jointly organized a Masterclass Plant Insights last week. The venue was the World Horti Center in Naaldwijk, Netherlands.…

AirBlow system blows air into the floor, increasing efficiency of underfloor heating

In these days of exploding energy prices, any innovation that leads to savings is more than welcome. One such innovation is ErfGoed's patented AirBlow system. Managing director Hugo Paans explains exactly how it works. "We heat or cool the floor with a special heat pump. On the pipework in the floor, we put…

US: Tropicals market expected to increase again

The market for tropicals is expected to move its way up again. At the Tropical Plant International Expo, vibes are positive, and according to several exhibitors, there are clear signs that the market will increase again. The expo takes place at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa (FL), USA, and will run…

Energy saving potential with new farm management system SBE

Lock Antriebstechnik will present their SBE Farm Management System at IPM Essen. The SBE system is a digital solution for horticulture that can be used to achieve an optimal greenhouse climate and improve greenhouse processes. According to the team with Lock, digitalization does not stop at the…

"Energy will be top of mind at IPM Essen"

"Energy is arguably the biggest challenge for greenhouse growers in these times. Rising prices and supply uncertainty have hit many growers and have even led some to skip the winter grow cycle altogether. So naturally, energy is on everyone's mind at the upcoming IPM exhibition in Essen", says Ziv Shaked…

"Uniform lighting is essential for growing a consistent crop"

When you invest in a new lighting solution for your greenhouse, it is important to make sure the products selected will perform well over time. You don't want any issues with quality or specifications on an installation that might lead to failure years down the line. The best way to ensure that your…

MetrolinaGreenhouses

Bring #color to your early spring #landscape by planting these #companionplants that work well together. Pansies, violas and kale are cool-weather plants that provide color, texture and interest to any garden bed, window box and decorative container. #plants #flowers #gardening pic.twitter.com/WWlHGtKl2w — MetrolinaGreenhouses (@MetrolinaGHS)…

Dutch orchid grower replaces SON-T with LEDs

This week, the Powerplus Group team started installing LED lamps in four departments at Dutch orchid grower Maarel Orchids.  The current SON-T lamps will be replaced by HORTILED® Top Antares fixtures from Hortilux Schréder. In the next four weeks, a hybrid LED system will be installed in three of the four…

System gives roots extra oxygen: "It's actually a small water purification system"

At a Dutch potted plant grower this year, after a year of testing, systems were installed in all return water basins to aerate the return water. It involves JVR Tecmar's Vital Oxidizer. "It is basically a small water purifier that rids the water of organic contaminants," says John van Ruyven, the owner…

Howard Nurseries

Ready for customer event -biological control presentation from @fargro with Alex Matthews A few Spaces available for 1pm session https://t.co/oL3EmTFGKa pic.twitter.com/sQzV6G27bX — Howard Nurseries (@HowardNurseries) January 11, 2023

Towards smarter sustainable plant health choices in resources and technology

With the number of challenges increasing, growers are constantly looking for new strategies, resources, and technology to protect their crops sustainably and effectively. Manufacturers and suppliers are working to support them in their quest, using new products, technologies, and decision support tools…