El futuro de la FRUTICULTURA chilena podría depender de los macrotúneles - The future of Chilean FRUIT production might depend on the use of walk-in tunnels

http://static.elmercurio.cl/Fotos/2016/02/22/file_20160222110503.png

Durante el seminario “Fruticultura protegida: uso de cubiertas en frutales y vides como alternativa frente a la variabilidad climática”, organizado por el Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA, en conjunto con la empresa exportadora Subsole, los más de 350 asistentes pudieron conocer diferentes experiencias en el uso de cubiertas, tales como plásticos, mallas, entre otros.

Gabriel Selles, coordinador nacional del Programa Hortofrutícola de INIA, comentó a Portalfruticola.com que a pesar de que el uso de las cubiertas ha ido aumentando en los últimos años, aún falta saber cuáles son los puntos críticos en los que se debe centrar la investigación para que la fruticultura bajo plástico pueda disponer de  paquetes tecnológicos apropiados.

“Hemos visto que hay que enfocarse en ver los temas de nutrición, ya que los parámetros  de crecimiento son tan distintos adelantándose los estados fenológicos en muchas especies, actualmente se utilizan las mismas estrategias de riego, pero ya se ha demostrado que por lo menos ambientalmente hay menor demanda de agua, pero ¿a cuánto equivale esa menor demanda? ¿cuáles son los umbrales de riego más adecuados?, también el tema de la polinización y el comportamiento de las abejas bajo este sistema, también hay que estudiar el comportamiento de plagas y enfermedades y la respuesta de la fruta en poscosecha, etc.”

Uno de los casos más exitosos en Chile han sido el uso de los cobertores de plástico en uvas de mesa. Gabriel Marfán, gerente técnico y de desarrollo de la exportadora Subsole, expuso sobre la experiencia que han tenido en sus producciones y habló de los diferentes beneficios que tiene el uso de estas cubiertas.

berries4Por ejemplo, el film de polietileno ayuda a que las temperaturas mínimas bajo plástico sean mayores que en las condiciones ambientales externas, previniendo el daños por heladas y complementó esta última afirmación diciendo que en su experiencia en campo, las plantas que estaban sin cobertura de plástico durante una situación de heladas, presentaron 10 racimos por planta, mientras que en las plantaciones con uso de plástico, permitieron mantener  50 racimos por planta.

Asimismo, describió los diferentes tipos de cubiertas que se utilizan en la industria actualmente y sus funciones. Las mallas de monofilamento ayudan a controlar el viento, la radiación excesiva, granizos, pájaros, estimula el vigor y no modifica la fenología.

Las rafias por otro lado, son muy utilizadas en cerezos. Según la exposición de Marfán son resistentes y flexibles, pero deben utilizarse por periodos cortos de tiempo debido a las limitaciones en transmisión de luz, razón por la cuál su sistema es móvil, (retráctiles).

El film de polietileno de baja densidad, no debe confundirse con un invernadero, ya que tiene un sistema de ventilación y alta transmisión de radiación solar.

Los resultados del uso de las cubiertas, sea cuál sea el tipo, dependerá no tan sólo de escoger un buen proveedor, sino que también del diseño del sistema (altura, ángulos y ventilaciones), de la densidad de las plantaciones, su vigor, la variedad y zona geográfica donde se ubican.

Comportamientos post cosecha

Bruno Defilippi, Ing. Agr., Ph.D. Coordinador de la Unidad de Postcosecha de INIA, expuso sobre el proyecto que han estado desarrollando en conjunto con la exportadora Subsole en uvas de mesa y el comportamiento que tienen post cosecha tras el uso de cobertores plásticos.

Defilippi señaló que el objetivo de este estudio era cuantificar la magnitud de las modificaciones microclimáticas producidas por la cobertura plástica, además de elaborar un manual de producción de uva de mesa bajo cubiertas plásticas, definiendo los requerimientos específicos de recursos como agua, fertilizantes, etc.

Las variedades estudiadas fueron Superior, Ralli y Thompson Seedless, en las que se observaron las variables del rendimiento-cosecha, y se concluyó que con el uso de cubiertas plásticas los diámetros polar y ecuatorial de las bayas eran más largos, y que el peso de las bayas también aumentaba.

Asimismo, los parrones que estaban bajo plástico mostraban tener menos partiduras en las bayas, menos blanqueamiento y pardeamiento y pudriciones.

Algunas experiencias…

Durante el evento Portalfruticola.com conversó con Rodrigo Heredia de Agrícola Huertos Santa Teresa, quienes hace 4 años están utilizando las cubiertas de plástico en sus parrones de uva de mesa.

hombre-portal-fruticola“No tenemos cubiertas todas nuestras plantaciones por que eso conlleva una inversión muy importante, por lo que hemos estado instalándolo de forma paulatina. Ya tenemos la mitad de nuestras Thompson Seedless (15 ha) cubiertas y han respondido muy bien, al igual que los cerezos (29 ha)”.

Los resultados de las pruebas en uva de mesa que realizó Huertos Santa Teresa fueron mostrados en el seminario y Heredia dice que además del aumento en la productividad que han tenido, ahora se sienten más seguros al producir.

“Nos sentimos más seguros de tener la producción año a año”.

En cuanto a los cerezos, Heredia dice que si es que uno tiene los recursos para cubrir las plantaciones, hay que hacerlo.

“Hoy en día uno está muy expuesto a las lluvias, heladas y al cambio climático en general, por eso esto ha sido muy importante para el desarrollo de nuestro negocio. El manejo de las rafias no es tan simple, tiene buenos resultados pero es una inversión importante y un costo de operación que hay que tener en cuenta”.

Respecto al seminario Heredia dijo que “la calidad de los expositores ha sido muy buena, se han abarcado muchas variedades de especies como uvas de mesa, manzanas y cerezos, y han entregado información muy relevante para lo que a uno le interesa conocer más en profundidad”.

Para Miguel Allamand, ‎presidente del directorio de la exportadora Subsole S.A, los cobertores plásticos “son una respuesta muy interesante que son muy importantes de evaluar en distintas especies y creemos que con este tipo de eventos, los avances que cada uno tiene en estas experiencias de uso, hay que compartirlos, hay que discutirlos, ya que creo que el desarrollo de la fruticultura en Chile exige que los distintos actores no tengamos una actitud cerrada, la idea es compartir lo que uno sabe, para que te enseñen de vuelta lo que no sabes”.

Si bien Allamand dice que hay que profundizar en los efectos de este tipo de cubiertas, él ha visto que consistentemente en todas las especies ha tenido buenos resultados. Sin embargo, el talón de aquiles es el financiamiento.

“Hay que buscar mecanismos por la banca que permitan resolver el financiamiento. El proyecto plástico para el productor es rentable, pero requiere de una inyección de capital muy grande, los productores no tenemos 20 a 30 mil dólares por hectárea en los bolsillos para invertir, y este es un elemento que hay que abarcar”.

También en el seminario se presentaron experiencias de arándanos bajo plástico o mallas, por la investigadora de la Universidad Católica Ph.D. Pilar Bañados; uso de mallas en huertos de manzanos por el investigador de la Universidad de Concepción Ph.D Richard Bastías; cobertores plásticos en kiwis por el ingeniero agrónomo, Christian Abud, y en cerezos expuso Jordi Casas, ingeniero agrónomo de la exportadora Frusan y Gregory Lang, Ph.D de la Universidad de Michigan, EE.UU.

Fuentes: Portal Frutícola y Blueberriesconsulting

Malta efforts to guarantee healthy AGRICULTURAL products - Esfuerzos de Malta para garantizar productos AGRÍCOLAS saludables

Photo source: http://iip.gov.mt/

According to latest figures presented by the European Commission it was informed that only 6% of the agricultural products in Malta had high levels of pesticides. In 2014, the Maltese Authority tested samples of more than 170 food products. Only 10 were found to contain high levels of pesticides and immediately action was taken against those responsible for their production. There were cases where they intervened at a field filled with vines preventing it to be sold in the market, or greenhouses with tomatoes that were stopped its distribution in the market.
Source: Maria Muscat (http://www.tvm.com.mt)

Biological control of thrips in protected STRAWBERRY production - Control biológico de trips en la producción de FRUTILLA (FRESA) bajo cubierta

Predatory mite Neosiulus cucumeris feeding on a thrip (http://www.biologicalservices.com.au)

The thrips Frankliniella occidentalis is a prioritary problematic in protected production of strawberry. A cross border program involved partners in the north of France and in Belgian Flanders and was conducted between 2012 and 2014. The aim was to develop integrated biological control. The study of the thrips population dynamics and of the damaging effect found that the pest population was able to develop early and strongly, particularly for repeat flowering varieties. Then, alternative control strategies were evaluated, strategies that are based on mass trapping, prophylactic measures and release of the predatory mites Neoseiulus cucumeris and Amblyseius swirskii. The results found that integrated biological control is an efficient and sustainable method, with possible increases in yields and a strongly decreased use of pesticides.
Source: Quennesson, S.; Dumortier, F.; Marez, T. de; Dahinger, V.; Petit, K.; Oste, S. 5th Conférence Internationale sur les Méthodes Alternatives de Protection des Plantes, 11-13 mars, 2015, Nouceau Sièle, Lille, France (http://www.cabdirect.org/abstracts/20153416985.html).

"Monterey" STRAWBERRY cultivar performs well under walk-in tunnel in Colombia. La variedad de FRUTILLA (FRESA) "Monterey" se adapta bien al cultivo en macrotunel en Colombia

Photo source: http://www.larepublica.co

In Colombia, high-tunnel systems may be a viable alternative for increasing the yields of strawberry crops due to their ability to prevent fruit losses and plant damage caused during periods of high precipitation. This study aimed to compare the yield and its relationship with vegetative and reproductive components of Albion and Monterey strawberry cultivars, established in open-field and high-tunnel systems in Cajica (Colombia), at 2,562 m a.s.l. and 4°56´N, 74°00´W. ‘Monterey’, a cultivar with more vigor, presented a higher yield that ‘Albion’. The growth conditions in the high-tunnel system promotedrapid vegetative growth in the ‘Monterey’ plants, with an increase in yield and a decrease in losses. The ‘Albion’ cultivar plants in the high-tunnel system presented a decrease in fruit losses; however, these plants did not present differences in yield compared to plants in the open-filed system. Despite the benefits of a decrease in fruit losses due to rot seen in the high-tunnel system, this system had an increase in powdery mildew and calcium deficiency.
Source: Carlos Mario Grijalba, María Mercedes Pérez-Trujillo, Diana Ruiz and Ana María Ferrucho. 2015. Agronomía Colombiana 33:147-154.
http://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/agrocol

Dutch HORTICULTURE becoming climate-neutral - La HORTICULTURA holandesa aspira a reducir a cero su impacto en el cambio climático

In 2050 Dutch horticulture will be climate-neutral. Already by 2030 a big step will have been taken. The biggest challenge will be achieved through measures in the greenhouses: more economical production methods, energy-efficient greenhouses, heat recovery and delivery to the greenhouses of sustainable energy (electricity and heat). There will be flexible solutions by district, such as joining a heat-distribution grid, geothermal heat or flexible electricity used at times when there is low-cost solar or wind energy. A CHP plant will be switched on for power supply when electricity is expensive. A number of greenhouse growers will opt for cultivation of specialties that require only an electrical connection for heating. Because electricity in the coming years will become increasingly cleaner and without CO2 production, the glasshouse growers will thus contribute to a neutral climate. The study sketches the pictures of "flexibility" and "all-electric" in the future energy management of greenhouses.

The study "Vision horticulture 2030 climate and energy" has been conducted by CE Delft, commissioned by LTO Glaskracht Nederland and the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and LTO Glaskracht Nederland have agreed to the Long-term Agreement Energy Greenhouse 2014-2020, to develop a vision for addressing the energy sustainability of the horticultural sector after 2020. In the context of the program Greenhouse as Energy Source, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and LTO Glaskracht Nederland have worked successfully for years on, and led research into, more efficient cultivation methods (The New Cultivation, greenhouses, better lighting, geothermal). As a result the Dutch horticulture industry is one of the most innovative sectors in the area of energy and has a strong lead internationally.

Acreage decrease The report is based on a significant decrease in the area:  20% to 2050 (7,500 ha). "The reason is that there is now a lot of acreage with outdated greenhouses and the assessment is that they will not all be replaced. More than half of the remaining area  (60%) will consist of the cultivation of commodities where a large degree of flexibility can be applied with regard to electricity, heat, production and CO2. The other 40% consists of the cultivation of specialties, products where all-electric greenhouses are dominant. 

CogenerationThe report also looks at the position of CHP. In the coming years, there are still many opportunities for the use of CHP. The opportunities for the sustainable Bio-CHP are, however, highly dependent on various developments. The availability and cost of suitable biomass is a very important one. But also developing a market model in which the flexibility available to the grower gets a value by which the cost of the durability can be covered is necessary.
The search for clusters of companies (and other sectors) can contribute to an opportunity for a richer rollout of sustainable heat and power.
Source: Karin Tazelaar (www.hortidaily.com). Full report @ http://www.ce.nl/publicatie/visie_2030_glastuinbouw_-_energie_en_klimaat/1671  

Pakistani VEGETABLE growers are learning protected farming - Productores de HORTALIZAS paquistaníes están aprendiendo la agricultura protegida

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The latest tunnel technology is being introduced among progressive growers of the Punjab to grow off-season vegetables as it is impossible to grow summer vegetables without tunnels during December and January. A spokesman of the agriculture department stated that summer vegetables like cucumber, tomato, sweet chilies, green chilies, pumpkin, sponge gourd, bitter gourd, vegetable marrow, red gourd, eggplant (brinjal), watermelon, musk melon could easily and successfully be grown in low, walk-in and high tunnels.

He said that the tunnel grown vegetables were covered by green fiber sheets to protect these vegetables from severe cold and frost during December and January. He recommended the vegetable growers to get proper training for tunnel farming and start nursery cultivation of tomato, sweet chilies, green chilies, and brinjal from mid September.

Sources: dailytimes.co.pk, www.hordaily.com

Emerging and re-emerging plant diseases: BLUEBERRY and CITRUS threatened - Enfermedades emergentes y re-emergentes: ARÁNDANO y CITRICOS amenzados

Photo source: University of Georgia - CES

Oliver and collaborators (2015) determined that Xylella fastidiosa isolates from both the subspecies multiplex and fastidiosa can cause blueberry leaf scorch under greenhouse conditions. Although currently only X. fastidiosa subsp. multiplex isolates have been recovered from infected blueberry plants in the southeastern United States, X. fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa occurs commonly on infected grapevine in this region. These authors demonstrated the potential of X. fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa as a blueberry pathogen, and identified the differences in interactions of blueberry with both both subspecies that could be helpful in the deployment of host resistance as a control strategy.

Photo: http://idtools.org/id/citrus/diseases/images/fs_images/01Leprosis.jpg

Roy and collaborators (2015) provided a fascinating account of citrus leprosis, a disease that was first reported in Florida in the 1860s. Though the disease caused extensive losses, it ceased to be a serious concern in Florida by the 1930s. The disease, however, re-emerged as a major threat to citrus production in South and Central America and is rapidly expanding its geographic range. Citrus leprosis is caused by a complex of viruses involving both cytoplasmic and nuclear viruses. All five viruses that have so far been identified are nonsystemic and cause only local lesions, but differ in their host ranges. These viruses are transmitted by mites in the genus Brevipalpus. In their paper, they describe novel hosts for some of these viruses, new vectors within the genus Brevipalpus, and the replication of both cytoplasmic and nuclear viruses within mite species. This suggests the potential origin of these viruses in mite species, the crucial role of mites in disease transmission, and also the unique role of citrus as a vector of viruses and mites.
Source: http://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/full/10.1094/PHYTO-105-7-0001

HORTICULTURE of the future with zero pesticides, zero food-miles, and zero soil consumption - HORTICULTURA del futuro con cero plaguicidas, cero huellas de alimentos y cero uso del suelo

In the future, how will salad be cultivated in a city without large areas of land being available? The various innovative solutions to meet the growing demand for food and fight against waste also includes the vertical farm, a greenhouse almost 5 meters high to test version 3.0 of the agriculture of the future with zero pesticides, zero food-miles, and zero soil consumption. Carried out by the Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Italy’s first vertical farm was inaugurated on Friday, 10 July. 

Plants (lettuce and basil) are grown on several layers in pressed peat cubes immersed in water continuously recycled with nutrient solutions (hydroponics). The structure is lighted using highly efficient LEDs that reproduce the photosynthesis cycle. ENEA states that production, “compared to traditional crops, is almost double, with salad greens, for example, increasing from 6 to 14 harvest cycles/year for each level, with a 95% savings of water (just 2 liters/kg of lettuce as compared to 40-45 liters/kg in a “traditional” field).” The Vertical Farm, Agency points out, “is a symbol of the future of agricultural technologies, on which the agency’s nine existing centers in Italy are working. 

Products, services, and processes designed for companies in the sector have been collected in an illustrated volume on technological innovation – a sort of online “catalog” at www.ENEA.it, which contains over 500 entries on various sectors.” A vertical farm does not produce any waste as all the products used in growing the plants are continuously recycled within the farm. There are not even any irritating noises, except for the slight hum of the fully recycled air conditioning inside.

The agricultural innovations include biological insecticides, sensors to detect food product adulteration, processes to recover useful substances from wastewater, food traceability technologies, the development of precision agriculture, also with drones and satellites, for less water-intensive cultivation using innovative climate models. ENEA also introduced a campaign against food waste whose first initiatives include an agreement with Caritas Ambrosiana and Coop Italia for the use of the vertical farm products in the new Milanese refectory and the launch of the “Smart Fork” project to raise awareness among primary school children on the link between food, the environment and energy. 

Source: http://www.georgofili.world

Growing VEGETABLES without entering the greenhouse - Cultivar HORTALIZAS sin entrar al invernadero

The root scanner give a clear view of root health.

The second year of the Dutch experiment Growing Digitally is halfway through. Wim van der Ende (cultivation adviser at DLV GreenQ) is controlling a crop in an area of about 150m2 entirely from a distance from an office. He has not yet been in the glasshouse and relies entirely on the details that he has from measurements and data in order to control the crop.

Up to now, this control from a distance is going according to plan. They are growing with the variety DR1398TH from De Ruiter Seeds. In a different area of the Improvement Centre, they are also growing this variety as a reference crop. This crop is not being controlled from a distance, but is being monitored by the cultivation adviser in the glasshouse.

The information that is necessary to control a glasshouse from a distance consists of strategic information and monitoring information. For this practical research, we are using the following techniques, sensors and devices:

Strategic information: 

•    Details climate computer
•    Crop registration
•    Images
•    Weight measurements
•    Plant temperature camera

Monitoring information:
•    Paskal weighing system
•    Wireless Value sensors
•    Root scanner

A good example of the monitoring information is that in this research, we are using a root scanner. This has been part of the research since the beginning of this year and aims to show the root quality. With this, we can establish root health with the help of a few roots and the colour of the roots, and detect possible problems on time and take action. According to Van der Ende, the crop is looking good and is ready for the summer. Source: http://www.hortidaily.com

Good news for growing BERRIES in arid and urban regions - Buenas noticias para cultivar FRUTOS ROJOS en regiones áridas y urbanas

Photo from www.gerontogeriatria.org

Soilless (hydroponic) vegetables and fruits grown in greenhouses are gaining popularity and potentially represent a compliment toward sustainable food sources. Only a few studies have looked

at the nutrient quality of strawberries and raspberries grown in soilless systems. Dry weights, content of ascorbic acid, tocopherol, total polyphenolic compounds, glucose, fructose, and soluble solids (BRIX) of strawberries and raspberries grown in soilless systems were compared to their counterpart grown in soil. There was no change in dry weights but BRIX values (28% - 31%), glucose (158% - 175%), and fructose (75% - 102%) content for strawberries and raspberries respectively were significantly higher for the soil grown berries compared to soilless grown berries. Contents of ascorbic acid, tocopherol and total polyphenolic compounds were significantly higher in soilless grown strawberries compared to soil grown strawberries by 74%, 53%, and 22% respectively, and contents of ascorbic acid and total polyphenolic compounds were significantly higher in soil grown raspberries by 83% and 67% respectively compared to soilless grown raspberries. Soilless grown produce warrants future research to strive toward the potential to provide nutrient dense crops and opportunities toward optimized sustainable production.

Read more at http://www.scirp.org/Journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=57359#.VY6rQPl_Oko 

Progresa la construcción de un inmenso complejo de INVERNADEROS en el hostil clima de Kazajstán - Progresses to build a huge complex of GREENHOUSES in the hostile climate of Kazakhstan

A primera vista, la ciudad de Pavlodar en los confines del norte de Kazajstán difícilmente parece un lugar que se asociaría con la producción de tomate. Los largos y fríos inviernos se caracterizan por fuertes nevadas, con temperaturas bajo cero y fuertes vientos penetrantes. Abordando el reto está la especialista holandesa en invernaderos Dalsem, que está a medio camino en la construcción de un set de invernaderos gigantes para contribuir a la autosuficiencia de Kazajstán. 

Soportar estas severas condiciones climáticas significa que el proyecto de invernaderos Pavlodr debe utilizar el tipo correcto de equipos y tecnología para crear condiciones de crecimiento óptimas para la producción de tomate. Incluso en climas extremos, se prevé que el complejo de 3,4 ha produzca 1.600 t de tomate al año, junto con una variedad de otros vegetales. “Es una de las regiones más frías en esa parte del mundo con inviernos duros y temperaturas extremadamente frías, pero nuestro objetivo es transformar este complejo en un lugar para la producción en masa de tomate“, dijo Broeren. “Dalsem se especializa en el desafío de construir invernaderos modernos, con calefacción en los países extranjeros en los que tenemos que considerar las condiciones climáticas locales y esto es exactamente lo que estamos haciendo en Kazajstán”, comentó. El desarrollo está a medio camino de construcción y se espera comenzar a plantar en el otoño.

Broeren dijo que una vez terminado, el complejo generará rendimientos máximos mediante el control del clima y el riego de las plantas a través de calefacción técnica, refrigeración, filtración, sombreado y los sistemas eléctricos. Este sistema informático es parte esencial del proyecto, ya que controlará la gestión diaria del invernadero una vez que se termine la construcción y comience la producción, monitoreando todo 24/7, los 365 días del año. También habrá un agrónomo dedicado a organizar la producción y llevar la última tecnología hortícola a otros especialistas de Pavlodar trabajando en el proyecto.

La apuesta por una mayor autosuficiencia

Recientemente, el presidente reelecto de Kazajstán, Nursultan Nazarbayev, ha estado pidiendo una mayor sostenibilidad en los sectores de alimentos, así como potenciar en general la industria agrícola del país dado que grandes cantidades de tierra cultivable están poco desarrolladas, mientras que los recursos y la fuerza de trabajo permanecen sin explotar. En un reciente discurso, en el que destacó las reformas y su “Plan de la Nación”, Nazarbayev citó la importancia de atraer inversores para desarrollar la industria agrícola y su potencial para contribuir a la economía general del país. “Kazajstán es el noveno país más grande del mundo, con una gran cantidad de productos importados que han venido de diferentes países en los últimos años y esto es algo que el país quiere cambiar”, añadió Broeren. “El gobierno quiere trabajar hacia la autosuficiencia y lograr una mayor producción, así que están promoviendo esto a través de todo tipo de esquemas, financiación nacional y tratando de conseguir más financiamiento para este tipo de proyectos agrícolas”, indicó.

La calefacción a carbón, donde la quema de polvo de carbón a alta presión minimiza las partículas de hollín y produce un rendimiento de combustión superior, se utiliza debido a la falta de gas local disponible. Y esta falta de gas significa que los proyectos hacen uso de una caldera de LPG cuya producción de dióxido de carbono con calor residual será re-utilizada en el invernadero.

Fuente: www.portalfruticola.com

New red and yellow striped PEPPER is named Enjoya -Nuevo PIMIENTO rojo y amarillo con rayas se llama Enjoya

Enjoya. That is the name given to the red and yellow striped pepper brought to the market jointly by Van den Berg nursery and 4Evergreen. Yesterday, mayor Sjaak van der Tak harvested the first Enjoya in the glasshouse in ‘s-Gravenzande.



Grower Wilfred van de Berg discovered the two-coloured pepper two years ago in his nursery business in Est. He is now working together with 4Evergreen under the name of Enjoya Growers to bring this distinctive product to the market.
Last wek,  mayor of the Westland (Sjaak vd Tak) harvested the first pepper. This opened the first official season of the Enjoya pepper.
This year, the pepper will be available in specialist greengrocers in the Netherlands and Enjoya will also be delivered to the Horeca industry. “Because of its distinctive and unique appearance, Enjoya has a highly decorative value. It invites every passionate food fan to get creative,” say the businesses.
Source: https://mail.google.com

How many hectares of greenhouses are in the world? - Cuántas hectáreas de invernaderos hay en el mundo?

Although many countries regularly tabulate statistics for greenhouse vegetable production, most countries do not. Of the reporting countries, a few have yearly figures, such as Canada, Germany, Finland and The Netherlands. Other major producing countries, such as the United States, only report detailed statistics every 10 years. Furthermore, most countries do not separate greenhouse from field production figures.

As for the specific growers of greenhouse vegetables, the only available information is through web sites, advertising notices and a few research reports.

To further complicate the numbers, there is no common definition of a “greenhouse” for vegetable production. In the Netherlands, this is a “glass enclosed structure”, in Canada- “under glass, plastic or other protection”. Under the latest government definition in the United States, it is “any production under cover”. Even lath, shade cloth or temporary high tunnels come under this definition. 

For Example: A “greenhouse”, according to the Netherlands:  

And, a “greenhouse” according to the USA and Canada government statistics services:

Statistics

Using a definition of “greenhouse vegetables” to include permanent glass or plastic structures, and climate controls as necessary, the estimated total global area on January 1, 2015 was: 

 

414,127 hectares (1,023,330 acres)

 

This estimate is based on official government statistics, published research reports, and extensive internet research for other specific data. 

 

Growers 

Because of confidentiality requirements, there are no government statistics that include individual grower’s information. However, using specific internet search algorithms, many of the larger global greenhouse vegetable growers information is available and has been compiled. 

 

Known Growers: 1826 in 95 countries, greenhouse area: 15340 hectares 

 

This grower information is published, with contact information, and it is available. The largest group of these companies represents 15340 hectares (37910 acres) of greenhouse vegetable production area. 

 

Many of the other greenhouse vegetable growers are in countries where the government actually owns the land, internet web site access is virtually not available, or, they are small-scale producers growing for a local market. 

Source: Gary W. Hickmantion (www.cuestaroble.com), www.hortdaily.com

 

Rwanda: Retiree reaps big from GREENHOUSE (TOMATO) farming

Many people dread retirement. In fact, retirement is seen by some people as a dark shadow in their lives. However, most forget that they are still productive and can still carry out profitable businesses and activities that can benefit them, their families and the community generally.

That's why, when a person retires, they should not let all their years of hard work and experience go to waste. They should devote some time to community causes as well as engage in income-generating projects to lead decent lives.

Josephine Kayiganwa, a retiree and former Bralirwa employee, falls in the latter group. Kayiganwa, who retired about two years ago, says she couldn't just 'sit and relax' at home. "After receiving my retirement package in February 2013, I started a greenhouse farming enterprise, which specialises in tomato growing ," Kayiganwa says. "The project keeps me busy and brings in some good income to sustain me and the family."

http://www.hortidaily.com
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