Tholen - Getting acquainted with cultivation innovations in an approachable way is exactly what Sendot aims to do with the so-called Plant Insights meetings, the second edition of which it organised yesterday at Ter Laak. A number of speakers from the supply chain with specialisations in the field of cultivation (in particular lighting and watering) were invited to share their insights with the 30 or so attendees.

From left to right Erwin Grafe of Sendot, José Carrettero of Red Horticulture and Andre van ’t Hoofd of Ter Laak

Of course, everyone, from the organisers to the speakers and also the visitors - fifty-fifty consisting of growers and suppliers, with a (perhaps not entirely coincidental) over-representation from phalaenopsis - has a commercial interest, but that is emphatically placed in the background.

Everyone is welcome, not just Sendot customers, preferred suppliers or a selected group of invited guests. If there are three bulb farmers with interesting insights, then all three are welcome to come; and if it is about the cultivation secrets of phalaenopsis, then basically all growers are welcome to come and shed their light.

The meeting was held in the ’theatre’ of Ter Laak's Inspiration Centre

John van Ruyven of JVR Techniek

After the first edition a few months ago at the World Horti Center, they were now welcome at Ter Laak in Wateringen, where there is of course plenty to see in terms of innovation and technology. On behalf of the company, Andre van ’t Hoofd welcomed his guests and talked about the ways in which this grower is thinking about tomorrow's production. ‘In 2030, Ter Laak will be circular and grow chemical-free, emission-free and fossil-free,’ he summarised. In every possible way, it tries to gather knowledge and seeks to exchange it with others to achieve these goals. Specifically, he sees the company switching to geothermal heat (or other, non-fossil sources of energy) in the future and the use of plastic will be greatly reduced.

Arie Draaijer of Sendot

A short series of presentations followed, briefly discussing a diversity of new insights. Jose Carrettero of French company Horticulture.Red, for instance, talked about the ‘black box’ of light and its effect on plant growth, John van Ruyven of JVR Techniek illustrated the great importance of oxygen-rich water, Bonte de Jong of Phytoconsult showed how sensors can be used to get a better and faster grasp of optimal light intensity and Arie Draaijer of Sendot concluded with the insights gained from photosynthesis efficiency measurements.

Bonte de Jong of Phytoconsult

From the Inspiration Centre you can look straight into the production hall

For more information:
Sendot
info@sendot.nl       
www.sendot.nl