High Intensity Horticulture

Transcription

1 High Intensity Horticulture Opportunities and challenges Theo Aanhane Business Unit Manager Horticulture

2 Agenda o Introduction Eurofins Agro o Developments in world food demand o Why high intensity horticulture? o Key issues in high intensity horticulture o Future outlook

3 Eurofins: Global Network of Laboratories

4 Mission statement Eurofins group Contribute to a safer and healthier world by supplying innovative and high quality analyses and advices to our customers Eurofins Group = Network of independent laboratories Since 2013 Eurofins Agro = Knowledge center for Agro and Horticulture

5 Eurofins Agro o BLGG was founded in 1928 o Acquisition by Eurofins in 2013 o Approx samples/year o Approx. 250 employees o Approx. 40 million turnover o Divided in 3 Business Units

6 Business Unit Horticulture o 1 of 3 independent and equal business units o Over samples/year o Fertilization (soil, substrate), soil quality and plant health o 69 countries (Netherlands = 70%) o Horti culture = speed and flexibility

7 Agenda o Introduction Eurofins Agro o Developments in world food demand o Why high intensity horticulture? o Key issues in high intensity horticulture o Future outlook

8 World population

9 Population growth varies

10 World food demand

11 Population grows, arable land however

12 The biggest challenge ever! In the next 30 years we have to produce as much food as has been produced in human history so far. On a decreasing acreage of arable land and reduced use of chemicals. High intensity (indoor) horticulture can be 1 of the solutions

13 Agenda o Introduction Eurofins Agro o Developments in world food demand o Why high intensity horticulture? o Key issues in high intensity horticulture o Future outlook

14 Open field horticulture is risky business o Temperature o Light o Rainfall o Wind o Soils o Insects o Fungi, Bacteria, Viruses, nematodes o Weeds Climate change even increases risks

15 High intensity horticulture more secure o Greenhouse and alike structures enable climate control o Efficient use of water (if recirculated) and nutrients o Effective pest control o Less space o No specific soil o Higher demand towards climate and fertilization management => High intensity crop management

16 Optimal production Av. 12 ton/ha >300 ton/ha

17 In any area OR Dry areas High altitudes

18 In any area OR Less space No (specific) soil

19 High intensity horticulture brings in new challenges o Energy (cooling and heating) o Lighting (additional and shading) o Water* o Fertilisation* o Disease control* Control might seem easier, but a closed system is much more sensitive. Mistakes can be disastrous. Therefore, requirements are higher!

20 High intensity crop management Horizontal horticulture Vertical horticulture

21 Agenda o Introduction Eurofins Agro o Developments in world food demand o Why high intensity horticulture? o Key issues in high intensity horticulture o Future outlook

22 The hydroponic process 1. Water source 2. Fertilisers 3. Drip water 4. Plants 5. Substrate 6. Drain water 7. Pesticides 8. Microbiology

23 1. Water quality o Regular control of (source) water: o ph and HCO3 o o Na and Cl content Fe total (bore hole water) o 1 4 (seasonal effect) times a year o Parameters: ph, EC, NH₄, K, Na, Ca, Mg, NO₃, Cl, S, HCO₃, P, Fe, Mn, Zn, B, Cu, Mo, Si

24 ph and HCO₃ o Optimal ph in hydroponics is 5.5 o High levels of HCO₃ cause (too) high ph levels o Add acid (eg. Nitric acid) to neutrolise HCO₃ and decrease ph

25 Na en Cl (1) High levels of Na and Cl cause loss of production.

26 Na and Cl (2) o Salinity stress: Bad water uptake by roots, caused by differences in osmotic value o Obstruct uptake of other elements (e.g. K, Ca) o Can be toxic o Influence EC: More Na => less space for beneficial elements

27 Na en Cl (3)

28 Na content of water samples (2017) Origin of water Av. Na (mmol/l) Low High Surface 2,8 <0,1 40,3 Source 3,4 <0,1 85,1 Osmosis 0,4 <0,1 4,1 Tapwater 2,9 <0,1 7,1 Drainwater 2,8 <0,1 22

29 Iron (Fe) o Fe-total: soluble and non-soluble iron o Too high: clogging of drippers and sprinklers because of insoluble iron salts o Drippers: Fe-total < 15 μmol/l o Too high: de-ferrisation necessary

30 2. Fertilization management o Frequent analyses of drain- and drip water o Directly after filtration o All substrates (rockwool/potting soil/compost/coco peat/greenhouse soil Provides insight in all nutrients directly available to the crop

31 Frequency of nutrient analyses o Drainwater and drip water analyses: o Every week (optimal), every 2 weeks (most common) o Potting soil/compost/(coco) peat analyses: o Once every 2 weeks (depending on type of crop) o Greenhouse soils: o Before planting + once every month during growing season (depending on type of crop)

32 Drain water report incl. advice

33 Drain water report: fertilizer mix

34 Leaf/fruit nutrient analysis o Availability in root zone does not guarantee uptake in the crop (ph and soil temperature) o Disbalance between elements (Ca/K ratio) o Check for deficiency or toxicity levels o Parameters: Dry matter, N-total, K, Na, Cl, Ca, Mg, P, S, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Mo, B Blossom end rot tomatoes because of Ca deficiency

35 ph and availablity of nutrients

36 3. Disease control o Prevention o Disinfection o Diagnosis o Water analyses o DNA Multiscan

37 Disinfection o Disinfection in greenhouses with: o UV o Ozone o Heating o Sand filtration o Sodium hypochlorite o Hydrogen peroxide o Disinfectors are expensive, but o Not always reliable

38 DisinfectorCheck database Germination count in cfu/ml after disinfection in % samples o Database of >500 samples % < >10000 Germination count o o Approx. 40% of the samples cfu >500/ml almost 30% even higher than 1000 kve/ml

39 Diagnosis by DNA techniques o Detecting plant pathogens with PCR DNA techniques o Water, soil and plantmaterial o Fast and specific (2-3 days) o Highly sensitive and reliable Actual presence of fungi or bacteria

40 DNA Multiscan analyses Testcode 151 Sweet pepper fungi 152 Tomato fungi 153 Cucumber fungi 154 Rose fungi 155 Gerbera fungi 159 Strawberry fungi 160 Previscan fungi 161 Trichoderma 162 Greenhouse vegetables fungi 163 Ornamentals fungi 170 Greenhouse horticulture extensive fungi 171 Woody plants fungi 172 Grass, sport and recreation fungi 174 Field cultivation fungi 183 Bacteria

41 DNA Multiscan report

42 Agenda o Introduction Eurofins Agro o Developments in world food demand o Why high intensity horticulture? o Key issues in high intensity horticulture o Future outlook

43 Present crop fertilisation management o Based on Basic fertilisation schedule => developed in 80 s o Optimised o Adjusted to wide range of crops o Optimised o Recent research shows => Old model still fits actual crop management system

44 Future horticultural crop management o Based on continuous (ion and plant) measurements o Actual availability (water, substrate and plant) o Actual need of the plant o Continuous adjustment of fertilizer mix and dosing o Plant health (vaccination) o Microbiome (resistance of the substrate)

45 High intensity horticulture o One of the most promising ways to produce food to feed the world s growing population; o Fresh food in and near cities and food-insecure places; o Control over the growing environment; o More efficient use of water, fertilizers and energy; o Enables labor-efficient technology (Robotics); o High quality, healthy food.

46 Thank you very much for your attention! Theo Aanhane Business Unit Manager Horticulture E: M: +31 (0)