AgroCare has taken a successful first step towards completely chemical-free tomato cultivation at its cultivation site in Rilland. As part of the pilot ‘100% Groen Geteeld‘ [100% Green Grown], the company was able to completely omit the use of chemical agents through intensive use of organic control agents. This pilot is in line with the sector's ambition to grow profitably without chemicals within a few years.
The pilot on a 5-hectare greenhouse in Zeeland yielded promising results. “By starting from a clean foundation and with liberal use of beneficial insects like ichneumon wasps, predatory insects and mites, we had whitefly well under control,“ said cultivation manager Danny van der Made. However, the pest Nesidiocoris, which damages the crop, does pose a challenge. To prevent invasion from outside, AgroCare is installing insect netting – which may have an impact on greenhouse climate control.
The sector-wide pilot is coordinated by the Federation of Fruit Vegetable Organizations (FVO). In the first year, an average chemical use reduction of 70% was achieved across all participants. However, crop protection costs doubled in the process, partly due to more intensive use of biological agents and biostimulants. For next season, AgroCare is adjusting its strategy to strike a better balance between yield and risk management.
In addition, the Green Growing Expertise Centre was set up to accelerate the transition, bringing together practical research, implementation and regulation. Experiences are also shared with a similar pilot in ornamental horticulture. In this way, the greenhouse horticulture sector is working step by step towards a future in which crop protection is completely green and sustainable.
