Sustainable cultivation has the highest priority. We are fully aware of our energy and water use and we reduce our emissions. We use smart technology to continue to innovate to reduce the environmental impact.
Saving on energy: We are continuously looking for ways to save energy. We give plants exactly what they need with smart cultivation methods: economical and effective.
Energy-efficient LED lights use less power and produce less heat so we can better manage the climate in the greenhouse.
When we keep the greenhouse windows shut as much as possible, we do not lose precious heat. This is the reason why we use air dehumidifiers that help to bring the air humidity in the greenhouse down. This means we do not need to ventilate as much.
Translucent energy screens - often two or three of top of each other - keep the heat in the greenhouse but do allow sunlight in.
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CO2 in the greenhouse: We bring additional CO2 into the greenhouse to allow plants to grow better and faster. Often, this CO2 is a residue product from another industry. Many growers generate CO2 themselves through their own cogeneration.
Together with our growers and sector peers we are searching intensively for innovative solutions to obtain CO2 such as capturing CO2 from the outside air.
Many growers produce CO2 themselves with their own cogeneration (also known as combined heat and power (CHP)). This cogeneration often operates on natural gas and that is why we want to reduce this use. It is then important to have a good and stable alternative for the CO2 supply.
It is true that cogeneration operates on natural gas, but it yields a useful output. The grower uses cogeneration to generate heat, electricity and CO2. This output can then be used in the greenhouse. The power that the grower does not need is returned to the network.
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Water: We make responsible and efficient use of water. The water that a plant does not use, is collected, filtered and recirculated. We only need 4-8 litres of water for 1 kg of product! We waste nothing and we do not discharge into nature.
We use rainwater for our plants, which we collect and store in basins, silos or underground. In countries with water scarcity, we comply with the SPRING certification, which stands for sustainable water management.
We work with a closed water system. Since we collect and circulate the other water, no fertilisers or residues end up in nature.
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Growth mats: Plants grow on substrate in the high-tech greenhouse. These are special growing mats that form the right feeding soil for our plants. This has various advantages.
Thanks to the growing mats, we can very specifically give water, nutrients and protection products. The water reaches every plant through a drip system. We can easily collect, filter and recirculate the surplus substances. We prevent soil diseases and influencing nature in this way.
The growing mats can be completely recycled at the end of the cultivation. For example, they form a raw material for compost, bricks and waste bags.
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Resilient plant: The best products come from a strong and healthy plant. This already starts with the development of a strong variety. We also keep a very close eye on the conditions in the greenhouse during growth. When there is a setback, a grower will take action as quickly as possible to restore the balance.
We are working on new cultivation methods with the following goal: to cultivate with green, organic and technological solutions in a cost-efficient manner by 2027.
We keep a close eye on the organic balance in the greenhouse and, by preference, use natural crop protection and therefore require a minimum deployment of synthetic resources.
Hygiene in the greenhouse plays a crucial role. This is why you need to disinfect your hands and shoes and employees wear special workwear. Visitors are given protective clothing, shoes and hair nets.
We use natural control measures as much as possible; such as ichneumon wasps that control aphids.
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