The 100% Green Grown Project
We work daily to improve our cultivation methods, with a strong focus on sustainability and future prospects. Every year we produce 23 million kilos of eggplants on 39 hectares, spread over four locations in the Netherlands. This ‘purple gold’ finds its way to markets in Germany, England, Scandinavia and the Netherlands. Yet we look beyond today’s production. Since last year we have been experimenting with an innovative method of cultivation at our location in Steenbergen: ‘100% Green Cultivated’.
Two greenhouses, two approaches
At our location in Steenbergen, we have 8.5 hectares divided into two greenhouses. In one greenhouse we grow according to the conventional method, while in the other we are testing the ‘100% Green Cultivated’ project. By comparing these two methods directly, we can see which approach works best. This way we learn from both and can make concrete improvements.
When the Federation of Fruit Vegetable Organizations (FVO) asked who wanted to participate in this project, we didn’t hesitate for a moment. It fits perfectly with our mission to provide quality products with the least possible impact on the environment and society. This project gives us the opportunity to experiment with green and organic cultivation methods, combined with technological innovations.
What is “100% green grown”?
The “100% Green Grown” project is a collaboration between grower cooperatives, suppliers and FVO. Our goal is to develop an integrated, resilient cultivation system that is completely green while remaining profitable. We look not only at the cultivation itself, but also at water management, climate and the substrate we grow on. Everything must contribute to sustainable and future-proof cultivation. This project covers seven different crops, including eggplants, and we expect to see within three years whether we can achieve this ambition.
The challenge of crop protection
Eggplants are naturally robust and relatively unaffected by diseases, but pests such as aphids, thrips, caterpillars and whiteflies remain a challenge. The goal of the “100% Green Grown” project is to phase out chemical agents and replace them with biological alternatives. The package of available remedies is shrinking, and new green solutions often take a long time to develop. We want to discover how we can continue to grow profitably without chemicals.
Last season was the first year of this three-year project, and we managed to run entirely on biologicals from December to September. This was a big step forward, but in September we faced higher aphid pressure, so we had to use chemistry once. This shows that we are still searching for the right balance between sustainability and economic feasibility.
Innovations in crop protection and cultivation methods
We also took new steps to control pests, such as using insect netting. This netting was installed in December in the 4.5-acre greenhouse that is part of the project. It limits the entry of pests and prevents beneficial insects from escaping. This could help reduce aphid pressure, which may mean we need fewer biologicals in the coming season.
Learning and growing: a worthwhile project
The “100% Green Grown” project is challenging, but at the same time it offers us a lot of value. We are now accepting more damage and higher costs, but at the same time we are learning a tremendous amount. This project helps us move toward a more sustainable future. We are at the forefront with this project, which is enormously valuable to us. We still have a few years to learn, and we need to make the most of this time.
With the ‘100% Green Grown’ project, we are taking important steps towards a sustainable and profitable future for eggplants. By investing in innovation and sustainability, we are building a future-proof eggplant crop that is not only good for the environment, but also for consumers. It’s a long road, but the first results are promising!
