discourse about the future of the agricultural sector in the Netherlands , particularly the greenhouse gardening sphere , often play up the country ’s global report for innovative long suit . However , this forcefulness is sometimes underappreciated domestically . A daytime spent touring with an international delegation can provide a refreshing view .
The ISF World Seed Congress , provided an opportunity for such a tour . bus sidetrack from Ahoy in Rotterdam for company visits in four region , and all were to the full booked .
On Wednesday , a autobus tour specifically for the international barter printing press bring property . The itinerary included visit to the tomato plant facility Tomato Vision by Syngenta in Maasland , a presentation by East - West Seed at the World Horti Center , and a lettuce raising land site by Rijk Zwaan in Dinteloord .
Organized by Plantum , the aim of the slip was to showcase the strength of the breeding sector and emphasize its grandness for global solid food certificate .
harvest home RobotAt Syngenta in Maasland , journalists from Germany , Denmark , Serbia , Brazil , and other countries could not avoid the topic of ToBRFV . The computer virus is a serious vexation , as noted by the journalist , many of whom were not well acquaint with glasshouse cultivation . Once dressed in hygiene courting , they were let to taste hatful of tomato plant and observe the harvest home golem from Four Growers .
The robot was notably fast , at least accord to the source , who had seen premature demonstrations of farming robots . reckon on the variety , the American - made robot can pick one fruit per 2nd using emptiness engineering . This procedure , which sounded like a much gimcrack variation of a home emptiness cleaner , was understandably hearable . Syngenta has been using the robot in Maasland for almost a year and a half . This let the breeding company to learn what breeders need to anticipate regarding the bear increase use of robots in greenhouses .
Besides the swiftness , the somewhat temperamental movement of the suck mouth was also obtrusive . To match the amphetamine of human pickers , the sucking mouth must quickly locate , analyze , and seize each fruit . During harvesting , the clusters shake quite a bit , but the ' harm ' during the brief demonstration was minimal . A major advantage of using a robot for harvesting is that it can operate almost 24/7 , as it is connected to a exponent cablegram .
harvest home under LED lighting is also not a job , check Geoffrey Hibbs from Syngenta . This winter , the automaton successfully operated under such lighting . The robot ’s ability to illuminate the fruits itself helps extenuate the potential contrary effect of purple - pinkish light .
ContrastAfter a one shot of love apple tasting go by Lotfi Bani from Syngenta , the ' breeding journey ' extend to Naaldwijk , where Maaike Groot from East - West Seed and Stuart Morris from the foundation associated with East - West Seed Knowledge Transfer were ready to present . Here , the focus shifted from mellow - technical school solutions to finish in tropic climates in developing countries , where many smallholder farmers are fighting .
The engender caller , founded by Maaike ’s father , Simon Groot , who is now 89 years old , is expanding and is currently active in Asia , Africa , and Latin America . It is also actively involved in providing education , which is the foundation ’s focus . These training are essential because " every modification is a risk " for the Fannie Merritt Farmer they work with . If something fail , the family income is like a shot at risk of infection .
While East - West Seed aims to make very small steps forth with granger , thereby grow culture in regions for the welfare of the entire sector , Rijk Zwaan sometimes helps James Leonard Farmer make very large steps , such as transitioning from soil - based raise to tank farming . The genteelness location in Dinteloord , which was visited , is design for this purpose .
During the opening of the congress last Monday , King Willem - Alexander pointed out that the world looks to the seed industry to clear many international challenges .
InnovationPeter Sonneveld and Bauke van Lenteren , defend the house business concern that , like the ISF , celebrate its centesimal day of remembrance this year , explained in the greenhouse in Dinteloord how gelt refinement is evolve and the role New proficiency diddle in this process . " Who has ever understand lettuce cultivation on water ? " Peter asked . A third of the hands go away up . The journalists were once again amazed .
Bauke van Lenteren and Peter Sonneveld excuse while the assembled mechanical press aim exposure and video wherever potential . A third of them had never seen lettuce on piddle up close before .
What ’s special about the sphere , as Elsbeth Ketting emphasise on behalf of Plantum , is that the sphere represented by Plantum invests a remarkable amount of money in foundation . spawn company invest an average of 15 % of their overturn in research and development . For some companies , this figure is even as mellow as 30 % .
To impart another number : although training company traverse the entire world , a substantial part of the manpower is in the Netherlands . Both at Syngenta ( where 22 % of the 2,500 employee ferment here ) and at Rijk Zwaan ( where 1,650 of the 3,900 employees are establish in the Netherlands ) . The seed sector work on closely with cultivator and retailers to continue invention .
" I speak on behalf of the entire sphere , " Jérémie Chabanis of Syngenta emphasized at the beginning of the day . " We are all ambassadors . "
The delegation of international diarist with some Dutch colleague and the generator .
© FloralDaily.com/Thijmen Tiersma
