Growtech is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

Informa
Informa

No need for an irrigation schedule as plants take the reins in new system

20 September 2023

Imagine an irrigation system that puts the power in the hands of nature herself. With the unveiling of Ecotube Gravitation Irrigation (EGI) the team with ecotube Germany says to have taken a massive step in this direction. 


If you can apply hydroponics broadly in tomatoes, why wouldn’t you do it in cotton?

20 September 2023

Is it a pepper plant? A new type of cannabis? A strange tomato? Nope, it isn't. It's cotton that's growing in this Spanish greenhouse. 


Toyota grows strawberries and cherry tomatoes at its production plants

20 September 2023

The photo in this article shows cherry tomatoes in cultivation. This scene comes not from a farm but from one of Toyota’s production plants. At another plant, the strawberry harvest is in full swing.


Malta: Aquaponic farming without significant operating costs

7 August  2023

“We first started by growing anything that would easily allow us to enter the market and are now replacing these crops with others that are in higher demand. These are all accessible in vegetable boxes sent directly to clients,” explains Pierre Axiaq, Farmer and owner of Tal-Kampanjol Aquaponics Farm in Malta.


Hydroponics project kicks off Ays Proje’s Mexico venture

7 August 2023

Ays Proje, a subsidiary of Aytekin Group with a focus on greenhouse projects, has started out on a new venture, entering the Mexican market under the brand name Ayt Mexico. The company recently signed an agreement for their first project in Mexico, a 2-hectare hydroponic greenhouse project that will be built this year in Guzman, Jalisco.


Huge greenhouse and open field complex coming online in India

7 August 2023

A new huge project consisting of a combination of open fields and greenhouses is coming online in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, India. “We are building a 200-acre precision farm,” says Meet Patel, founder of Rise Hydroponics. “Eventually, the whole thing will be of one thousand acres. The first phase is 200 acres and is going to be completed in a couple of months.”


Magnesium deficiency in tomatoes

18  July 2023

How can growers prevent nutrient deficiencies in crops? Soil testing and tissue testing for fertility management of vegetable crops is key to having the correct levels of nutrients to have a high yielding, high quality crop to harvest and market. Soil testing is best done in fall so that pH levels can be adjusted with soil amendments like lime that correct pH levels for maximum return on fertilizer uptake. Why adjust pH to proper levels? Plant nutrients are hindered in availability when soil pH is either too high to too low. Besides pH, fertility levels are important to monitor and adjust pre-plant for the best start to new seedlings and transplants.


New greenhouse multifan: reduced noise levels and improved energy efficiency

18  July 2023

Greenhouse growers have long relied on Multifan Greenhouse Fans for their durability, easy installation, and exceptional longevity. Now, the new generation of fans brings even more advantages specifically tailored to the needs of greenhouse growers. These fans boast reduced noise levels and improved energy efficiency, making them an ideal choice for any greenhouse environment. In fact, the Multifan Greenhouse Fan is one of the most energy-efficient horizontal circulation fans available worldwide.


Robot developer Honest AgTech declared bankrupt, relaunch being investigated

18  July 2023

Dutch robot developer Honest AgTech B.V. has been declared bankrupt. On June 27, the Noord-Holland District Court declared bankruptcy on the Delft-based company. The robot developer, known for a highly autonomous driving horticultural robot, filed for bankruptcy itself. There was a liquidity shortage. A relaunch is currently being investigated.


Indoor Farming Gets A Place In Greenhouse Farming LiveTrends Design Group Unveils Valentine's Day 2024 Collection

12  June 2023

LiveTrends Design Group Europe is excited to launch its Valentine's Day 2024 collection. "Drawing inspiration from the captivating beauty, artistry, and meticulous attention to detail demonstrated by pastry chefs and creatives, this collection presents a breathtaking fusion of romance and imagination."


German Grower Reduces Moisture In Slabs With Spacer

12 June 2023

In 2020, a tomato grower in Germany decided to try using Hydroponic Systems' Spacer in his greenhouse to improve his yields. The decision was a wise one. After installing a premium system with Spacer , his tomato plants grew healthier and stronger, without excess moisture or bacterial infections.


Strawberry Farm Provides Intimate You-Pick Experience To The Public

12 June 2023

The story now goes that local production is superior, and consumers are mainly looking to buy products that are cultivated close to home. Yet, sometimes this goes one step further, and that’s exactly what Warm Belly Farm has been doing with their You-Pick experience.


Indoor Farming Gets A Place In Greenhouse Farming

12 May 2023

A regular greenhouse is far from always the best solution anymore. Indoor farming gets a place in greenhouse farming. There is a future for indoor farms. Jilles Goedkegt, director of GreenV Indoor, says that in a year or two, it will be the mature solution for various crops. There are several examples of this in practice. A solution involves choosing the best cultivation result by default. 


Fresh Black Pepper Offers Opportunities For Dutch Cultivation

12 May 2023

Pepper is one of the most widely used spices in the world, especially in the dried form. The pepper plant is mainly grown in countries with a tropical climate, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, Vietnam, and Cambodia. But an exploratory study by the Greenhouse Horticulture and Flower Bulbs Business Unit of Wageningen University & Research shows that fresh pepper can also be grown well in greenhouses. 


Nearly 20 Years Of Growing Phalaenopsis And Still Growing Strong

12 May 2023

Growing quality Phalaenopsis Orchids efficiently and responsibly, all year round for the local market. This was the aim of the brothers Mike and Neil van Steekelenburg when they founded CosMic Plants Inc. in Beamsville Ontario in 2004. 


Can Stone Wool Be Recycled?

12 April 2023

One of the biggest questions in agriculture is how to recycle waste. Whether it's drip tape, mulch film, nursery pots, or growing media, each product has been challenged to find a new life after being used by growers. The average recycling rate in the US is just around 30%, according to the EPA. 


Advantages Of Growing Mushrooms In A Greenhouse

12 April 2023

Greenhouse production has seen a surge in growth over the years, with climate change and the ever-growing demand for produce. Tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers have been regular staples for some time now, with eggplant added only several years ago. If current trends hold steady, mushrooms and strawberries could soon be major players in this industry, like lettuce and greens, for example. 


Research Uncovers A New Approach To Cooling Greenhouse Irrigation Water

12 April 2023

A research project at a southwestern Ontario greenhouse has found a sustainable method to cool the water that growers use to irrigate their greenhouse vegetable crops - improving both plant health and fruit quality in the process.

Using funding from the Greenhouse Competitiveness and Innovation Initiative (GCII), Under Sun Acres Inc., has identified that water from a greenhouse’s stormwater management pond can be used to bring irrigation water to the ideal temperature the crops need, as opposed to using an electric or gas-powered cooling unit.


Pure Flavor Expands Greenhouse Portfolio Through Acquisition

20 March 2023

Pure Flavor® announces the acquisition of Cervini Farms C5 in Leamington, Ontario, to add to its expanding portfolio of greenhouses and distribution centers.

“The addition of the Cervini Farms C5 location was an opportunity to strengthen our strategic footprint. Increasing our owned acreage helps facilitate our growth alongside our grower partners and supports our need to scale up our operations to drive efficiencies. We are excited to add them to our family,” said Jamie Moracci, president.


Spiders Can Protect Tomatoes

20 March 2023

Groups of spiders could be used as an environmentally-friendly way to protect crops against agricultural pests. That's according to new research, led by the University of Portsmouth, which suggests that web-building groups of spiders can eat a devastating pest moth of commercially important crops like tomatoes and potatoes worldwide.

The tomato leafminer moth, Tuta absoluta, has developed resistance to chemical insecticides, which cause human and environmental damage, so different approaches, like using natural predators such as spiders, are needed to combat infestations. 


Irish Wasabi Gets The Green Light For Foodservice Industry

20 March 2023

McCormack Family Farms will supply Irish wasabi at a commercial scale for the first time in Ireland. The distinctive Japanese plant, which is notoriously difficult to grow, will now be available in large quantities for use in Irish restaurants and by food processors.
Working closely with plant-based food and crop development specialists Beotanics, McCormack Family Farms was able to secure a supply of premium quality and a sustainably grown strain of wasabi from Japanese breeding lines, which were developed to be suitable for the Irish climate.


Combining Vertical Farming And Greenhouse Horticulture To Decentralize Lettuce Production

13 February 2023

The Salinas Valley, known as the "salad bowl of the United States," has been a vital source of lettuce and leafy greens for decades. The region has historically supplied most of the lettuce and leafy greens consumed across the nation. However, the recent disruption of supply chains, labor markets, water resources, and weather exposed some familiar pain points that continue to plague conventional growers and frustrate consumers with limited supply, deteriorating quality, and volatile pricing.



A More Natural Form Of Artificial Lighting With An LED Pulse Technology System

13 February 2023

There are many factors that influence the amount and length of light exposure plants receive. Things like the time of year, weather conditions, overlapping leaves, and even the position of individual plants all play a role. It’s in response to these phenomena that Perfand LED came to create technology imitating nature based on the modulation of light with a spectrum suitable for the crop. The unique pulsed lighting system for plants; the Horti 2 line.


Paving The Way For Sustainable Greenhouse Cultivation In China

24 January 2023

The greenhouse horticulture industry has developed fast in China over the last few years. Modern technology can minimize the limits imposed by the region and climate, allowing them to create an optimal climate for crop cultivation while increasing the yield and quality of certain vegetable varieties. The greenhouse at Hortipolaris is not considered a large-scale operation, but they continuously offer safe and healthy vegetables to the big urban city of Beijing.


Key Mistakes of Vertical Farms

24 January 2023

In her speech at the “Vertical Farms: Development Strategies, Business Models and Risks” online conference, Kateryna Poberezhna, FAO International Consultant, noted that “Very expensive technologies and an insufficient level of knowledge are also challenges, especially since this is not only agronomy but engineering, as well.” Despite the growth in investments in vertical farms around the world, many startups are going bankrupt, and this is due not only to insufficient market research and rising energy costs. 


Could Almería's Greenhouses Serve As One Large Solar Park?

24 January 2023

The 33,000 hectares of greenhouses in Almería are an important source of food and have the potential to be much more, according to the Sana Energy company. Their development in nano-paste could ensure that Almería's greenhouses also become a source of electrical energy. But what is nano-paste?


Mobile Aeroponic System Requires Less Maintenance And Guarantees Even Irrigation

19 December 2022

Everyone is talking about sustainability and ways to reduce operational costs while doing – possibly – more. A cultivation method that addresses all of that is aeroponic. At the same time, setting up a large-scale aeroponic greenhouse is a huge task. That’s where the Swiss company CleanGreens Solutions comes into play.


New Report Outlines and Quantifies Catastrophic Loss From The Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV)

19 December 2022

iUNU published a new report on the Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) titled Learning to Live With ToBRFV. The report contains information on how ToBRFV spreads, how to detect ToBRFV, diagnostics for every stage of production, and more.


"You Can't Grow on Water Without Lights"

19 December 2022

Peter and Christel Verschaeren of Hydroponic recently installed a new CHP system. That means these Belgian growers are all set to grow a crop under lights this winter, having already invested in LED lighting. "We couldn't have switched to LED at a better time. We can achieve the same cultivation rate but with less light," begins Peter.


Training Dogs to Scout Greenhouse Pests

04 November 2022

Scouting pests in a large greenhouse can be quite a challenge. After all, the pests are hardly visible to the eye, and populations grow rapidly in number. For that reason, Deanna Kjorlien and her colleagues are training dogs to respond to the odor of greenhouse pests. After all, a dog's nose is sensitive enough to perceive the presence of an insect colony, even when it's still too small for a grower to notice.


In Some Situations, Using Artificial Lights can be Just too Expensive

04 November 2022

Many growers have to deal with increasing energy prices, and we have already seen some major producers halting winter production or outright close business. "In some situations, using artificial lights can be just too expensive," says Tim van Hissenhoven, managing partner of Cultivators. "It all depends on the energy contract a grower has, but at some point it is almost inevitable to start calculating. If a grower finds out it's not possible to continue like that any longer, then the only choice is to stop."


"We noticed considerably lower Pythium pressure thanks to Trichoderma harzianum"

04 November 2022

Cucumber grower Kees Hendriks (Qcumber) explains how his plant protection strategy has moved from integrated to 'almost' biological, using fewer and fewer chemicals. He has been using Trianum for the past two years in order to protect his plants' roots. "I started using Trianum-G because of my crop's susceptibility to Pythium," explained Kees Hendriks. 


Acrotelm and Wood Fiber as Alternative to Peat

14 October 2022

As if the energy crisis, fertilizers cost increase, and labor shortages weren’t enough, growers have to deal with a looming ban on peat. The UK has already banned peat for home growers, and while it’s probably going to take a longer time to impose that on commercial growers, the whole horti world is already looking for alternatives. “The thing is, however, that it’s unfeasible to think of a unique material that is going to replace peat 1:1,” says Pirita Luolamaa-Vollebregt from Novarbo Oy.


China's First Artificial Intelligence 5G Agricultural Robot Comes Out

14 October 2022

China's first artificial intelligence agricultural robot has officially started round-the-clock inspections in the smart vegetable and fruit greenhouse of the China-Israel Demonstration Farm in the Haixia Modern Agriculture Demonstration Park of the Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, marking that the Fujian artificial intelligence agricultural robot has officially entered the practical application from the research and development stage.


UK Strawberry Grower Uses UV-Light Robot to Keep Powdery Mildew at Bay

14 October 2022

The time when robots are widely available for every grower hasn’t yet arrived, but that doesn’t mean that some growers aren’t already betting on such innovative solutions. Dyson Farming, located in the UK, has invested in a UV light robot to improve the efficiency of their glasshouse enterprise, directly affecting the crop they grow. “It’s a novel solution,” agrees Angel Angelov, Glasshouse Manager at Dyson Farming.


New Packaging For Hydroponic Fertilizer Launched

20 September 2022

It is hot in the greenhouse at tomato grower Vermarke in Sint-Katelijne-Waver in early June. But one 'special employee' is not troubled by this. They are a robot that lowers the tomato plants. To do so, the robot turns the hooks around. "What is special is that the robot does this without being attached to the wire," Dimitri Verbruggen demonstrates. He is a manager at robot developer Veditec and points at what to the layman is 'a simple piece of metal'. "We have applied for a patent for this special gripper."


Cucumber Grower Let Robot Do Most Of The Leaf Picking

20 September 2022

When he steps into the greenhouse of cucumber grower Multigrow Grashoek, Stijn Linders of Lenzeel immediately makes a short sprint. The reason? The Diplo leaf-picking robot is already on its way to a new row of cucumber plants, where the robot will pick leaves from the bottom of the crop. Once in the row, the robot is busy for a while, so Stijn lets it stop to take a closer look. 


UV Light Signals Program Plants To Unlock Their Genetic Potential

20 Septermber 2022

We’ve produced 40% yield gains in strawberries with no loss of sweetness across three seasons and multiple cultivars" The application of UV Light to controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) remains an area of active research and innovation, with a recent focus on pathogenic resistance. One company, BioLumic, is focusing on ways to supercharge plant growth and quality through short duration UV Light Signals “We’re programming plants with light at an early stage to unlock their natural genetic potential without chemicals or genetic modification,” says Steve Sibulkin, CEO of BioLumic.


New Robot To Lower A Plant Every 10 To 20 Seconds

17 August 2022

It is hot in the greenhouse at tomato grower Vermarke in Sint-Katelijne-Waver in early June. But one 'special employee' is not troubled by this. They are a robot that lowers the tomato plants. To do so, the robot turns the hooks around. "What is special is that the robot does this without being attached to the wire," Dimitri Verbruggen demonstrates. He is a manager at robot developer Veditec and points at what to the layman is 'a simple piece of metal'. "We have applied for a patent for this special gripper."


Research Team Identifies Genes Making Strawberries Resistant To Fusarium Wilt

17 August 2022

Strawberry losses from Fusarium wilt could become less of a threat after researchers at the University of California, Davis, discovered genes that are resistant to the deadly soilborne disease.

The findings, published in the journal Theoretical and Applied Genetics, are the culmination of several years’ work, and the discovery will help protect against disease losses, said Steve Knapp, a professor and director of the Strawberry Breeding Program in the Department of Plant Sciences.


Oxygen, The 'Forgotten' Ingredient?

17 August 2022

It goes without saying that water management in greenhouses is an aspect of cultivation that needs to be utterly monitored and adjusted. Think of the pH, the EC, the amount of algae, fungi, diseases, etc. But one factor that is at least as important as those is often forgotten, observes CEO André van der Stoel and his team from Industrial Product Solutions: Dissolved oxygen.


New Greenhouse Machine Zeus Protects Crops And Operators

11 June 2022

It rolls through the greenhouses, is equipped with airconditioning, an mp4 radio, and a novel articulation system enabling it to rotate in tight spaces. And more important: it helps growers protect their crops grown under plastic while protecting the operator of the machine. We're talking about the Tizona Zeus, a new greenhouse machine designed by the Spanish company Carretillas Amate.


Autonomous Robots Can Pick Up To 25,000 Raspberries Per Day

11 June 2022

University of Plymouth spinoff Fieldwork Robotics has commercially deployed its raspberry picking robots in two locations in Portugal. The autonomous robots feature four arms for picking, using sensor technology and grippers to curb harvesting times and reduce slippage.


Dutch Growers Urged To Get Growing Without Gas "The Only Way Out Is Off The Gas"

11 June 2022

"The only way out is off the gas." A cold shiver might go down your spine involuntarily when hearing last weeks news that by 2026 Dutch consumers will no longer be allowed to replace their old central heating with a new one - they will need to change it by a heatpump. I will wait and see, you might have thought, and the moderates will surely counter the hardliners.


Google Meets Agriculture at Go Green Agriculture

11 May 2022

Our passion is driven by the desire to make a difference, not chase a market opportunity. It is and continues to be about developing passionate leaders and creating a positive impact. We go after the most difficult challenges in our industry using science, math and engineering” says Pierre Sleiman, founder and CEO of Go Green Agriculture.


Shanghai: Young People Who Can't Get Vegetables Start To "Help Themselves" Through Hydroponic Vegetables

11 May 2022

Vegetables have become a luxury in Shanghai. In a recent meme on the Internet, spinach is Hermes and cabbage is LV. If a small Pak Choi falls on the ground, it will be ridiculed by everyone as "whose luxury has been dropped". Under the epidemic, a "vegetable storage war" has developed from vegetable preservation methods to Internet shopping strategies, to the latest hydroponic vegetables.


"Honduras Greenhouse Park To Become The Largest Producer-Exporter In The Central American Region"

11 May 2022

With 35 hectares of greenhouses constructed during the pandemic, another 52 hectares under construction and plans to install up to 160 hectares by 2024, the Agroparque AgroAlpha-Orquídea Honduras is set to become the largest tomato, bell, and chili pepper producer-exporter in the Central American region. In addition to exporting a great variety of vegetables to the United States and Canada, the greenhouse park will promote the use of world-class greenhouse technologies for planting, harvesting, packing and exporting. 


Quality Improvement In Vegetable Greenhouse By Cadmium Pollution Remediation

11 April 2022

Greenhouse vegetable production (GVP) has grown in importance as a source of public vegetable consumption as well as income for farmers. Due to the high cropping index, substantial agricultural input, and confined environment, numerous contaminants can accumulate in GVP. Polluted soil is treated with metal cadmium pollution remediation technology in order to improve the quality of vegetable greenhouse soil and increase crop yields.


This Greenhouse Cannot Be Compared With Conventional Glasshouses

11 April 2022

Until now, the Austrian bio-brand Ja! Natürlich has completely avoided Austrian grown organic greenhouse vegetables due to the high energy requirements caused by heating and lighting. It has relied on imports from nearby countries as a more climate-friendly option due to the lower CO2 footprint. Now a solution has been found to meet consumers' intense desire for organic vegetables from Austria even in the colder months: BIOhof Geinberg, a greenhouse dedicated for organic growing, started cultivation of organic tomatoes, organic peppers and organic cucumbers in Austria.


Spain: New Greenhouse Project To Grow Tomatoes With A Smaller Water Footprint

11 April 2022

The Spanish Grupo Hortofrutícola Paloma expands its greenhouses with Novagric to achieve 20% more production using less water and energy.  Last year Novagric carried out a new project consisting of the design, manufacture, and construction of technologically equipped greenhouses for tomato growing in southeastern Spain. This project has been implemented to achieve a more digital agriculture, committed to the environment and efficient processes. An initiative that is already yielding promising results and profitability.


Introducing a Simple Scalable Solution to Indoor Growing

07 March 2022

“We want to impact the world in a positive way by helping people grow their own food,” says Rick Langille, CEO and Founder of Harvest Today. As an avid explorer who has sailed the oceans for years, Rick learned first-hand that the exploding population comes with increasing pressure on the ecosystem.


The Story of an Accountant Falling for Hydroponic Farming

07 March 2022

In recent years, hydroponic farming has increased in popularity in Indonesia. Yasir Ramadhan (28) changed his
profession from accounting to hydroponic farming to grow crops, especially melon. He works for Farmhill, a company that was established in 2018. As of now, Farmhill manages 30 greenhouse units spread over 4 locations in Central Java. 


From Farm to Fork: EU Improves the Supply of Organic Pesticides

07 March 2022

The European Union has taken a new measure to guarantee access to organic phytopharmaceutical products for all member states.  As part of the “Farm to Fork” strategy and the efforts to reduce chemical pesticides, the EU has taken a new measure to guarantee access to organic phytopharmaceutical products for all member states. These European countries have approved new regulations to facilitate the approval of microorganisms to use as active substances in phytopharmaceutical products. These new rules will enable farmers in the EU to replace chemical phytopharmaceutical products with organic ones.


Green Deal Will Lead To Lower Agricultural Yields

07 February 2022

By 2030, the European Commission wants to halve the use of pesticides in agriculture. The use of fertilizer should be reduced according to Europe’s plans. The measures are intended to combat climate change and the loss of biodiversity. A probable consequence, however, is that the yields of agricultural crops will decline.


The Number Of High-Tech Greenhouses In Poland Has Grown Significantly In Recent Years"

07 February 2022

With 1400 hectares of tomato cultivation in heated greenhouses, Poland is Europe's second-largest market. Last week, the local TSW fair was held in Warsaw, where René Zwinkels and Kasia Kaczmarek of Axia Vegetable Seeds were present. "Most of what is grown here is for the internal market.


Business Trends In China's Agri-Horticultural Sector In The Coming Years

07 February 2022

As one of the most dynamic markets for the global agri-horticultural sector, China has the largest greenhouse cultivation area worldwide. Several agriculture concepts, such as rural revitalization, big data, and AI, and sustainable farming, are encouraged by policymakers in China.  

Why Irrigation And Nutrients Should Be Well Distributed In Substrate Bags

13 February 2023

"The use of Spacers in protected cultivation has become popular in recent years due to the multiple benefits it brings to the development of plants", says Alberto Espinosa with Hydroponic Systems. Among these advantages is the equal distribution of water and nutrients throughout the bag, thus ensuring that the roots can grow and produce optimally. "Otherwise, the plants run the risk of developmental delays, choking, and diseases."