Grodan offers a crop-specific range of substrate slabs for vegetable growing, specifically for tomato, cucumber, sweet pepper and aubergine crops.
The choice of blocks largely determines the irrigation strategy, which ultimately yields the type of plant required by the grower. Grodan offers a wide range of blocks and plugs that yield uniform plants under various cultivation conditions.
Grodan has a crop-specific range of substrates for floriculture. Our focus is on rose and gerbera. These crops are characterised by their perennial cultivation properties.
Vertical farms are a very promising and sustainable solution to the growing needs for healthy, local foods in (over)populated urban areas. What’s more, at Grodan, we believe vertical farms will play an indispensable role in our future global food production. So, what is it all about?
Sustainability is in our genes. From the moment we’ve invented stone wool growing we have been facilitating an efficient way of producing food to keep people healthy, with a positive impact on the planet by minimising the use of resources, whilst at the same time helping growers optimise their profit to sustain their businesses in the future.
Data science and AI technologies present us with so many opportunities to collect and mine data in the greenhouse. This paper will help you begin your journey to get the best out of your greenhouse data. There’s a bright future ahead!
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High-tech greenhouse horticulture is preparing for a new, global transition to data-driven growing practices. In Horticulture 4.0, countless sensors and measuring systems collect a constant flow of data on growth conditions and the functioning of crops, from both visible parts of the plants as well as in the root zone environment. These multiple data flows and their correlation are analysed centrally and translated real-time into setpoints using sophisticated growth models and smart, self-learning software. The recommendations can be used to maximise the expected operating results. This is the ultimate form of Precision Growing.
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In today’s conditions, growing crops can be likened to performing sport at elite level. Green fingers and a passion for growing no longer guarantee good operating results. The goalposts are constantly being shifted. Stringent environmental regulations and legislation, excessive demands placed by customers, fierce competition and small margins force growers to maximise the potential of their crops efficiently and sustainably. At the same time, the continuing trend of upscaling, the tight labour market (smaller pool of available labour) and dwindling numbers of experienced crop managers (vanishing expertise) are all obstacles along the path of achieving business continuity and success. Not just today, but also tomorrow and in the years ahead.
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The composition of the nutrient solution should be appropriate to the needs of the crop. One of the benefits of using Grodan stone wool substrates is that the nutrient composition is under total control of growers. However the uptake of particular nutrients varies constantly with growth and fruit load therefore the nutrient balance, pH and EC in the root zone is also constantly changing.
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How does one optimise the slab EC and WC? As the longest day approaches, keeping the slab and the crop in the proper ‘rhythm’ is necessary for peak production and fruit quality under the most stressful and demanding period of the year.
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How to fine tune the irrigation strategy during spring & summer to avoid costly mistakes using tools such as the Grodan GroSens system and the graphics function of the climate computer.
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How a plant uses water and the interaction between root zone and aerial environments
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Goals and targets for crop and root zone management in response to changes in plant development, fruit load and light levels.
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Starting a new crop is always an interesting time of year. It’s an eagerly awaited fresh start however some decisions and actions we make now can have a big impact later in the cultivation.
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Have you ever wondered why at certain times of the year tomato crops are more susceptible to fruit quality disorders? For the most common physiological disorders namely blossom end rot (BER) and uneven colour (blotchy ripening) this whitepaper explains their cause and prescribes simple solutions to avoid / minimise risk of symptom expression in the first place.
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The volume of irrigation water applied per square meter is linked to radiation sum as a general rule in the ratio 3.0 ml per joule. The exact figure will ultimately depend on outside weather influences such as wind speed, humidity as well as the greenhouse vent position. The question is whether this total drain volume is necessary or not? So what is the role of drain and what is a sufficient volume of the drain?
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Maintaining a good nutrient balance along with a well-executed irrigation strategy can help to avoid many of the common fruit quality disorders which are experienced over summer. Standard feed recipes are available from all analytical laboratories and it is important that you take samples of water from within the slab on a regular basis so that the feed solution can be adjusted in order to maintain the correct nutrient ratios throughout the summer.
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Maintaining a good nutrient balance in the root zone can help avoid many common fruit quality disorders. Standard feed recipes are available from all analytical laboratories and with a regular analysis of the root zone solution the feed solution can be adjusted so that optimum nutrient ratios are maintained.
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Vertical farming is on the rise around the world, not least because it supports a number of major societal trends such as local sourcing and sustainability. In this article, Tico van Leeuwen explains why the right growing medium plays an important part in creating the optimal conditions for a strong and healthy crop, and why stone wool is such a good choice for vertical farmers.
In october last year, right before the dark winter months, ten parties from the greenhouse horticulture sector started growing cucumbers at the Botany research center in the Netherlands, as we learned during the first episode of this cucumber trial. These parties came together to investigate how cucumbers can be cultivated in a sustainable and efficient way during winter, with the help of extra (LED) lighting.
As one of the defining systems builders in the horticulture industry based in Horst (the Netherlands) founder and CEO of Light4food Rene van Haeff was convinced that the horizontal and vertical controlled growing systems in combination with light were to be the future solution for growing crops sustainably. Light4Food is a turnkey system builder for a wide variety of crops grown in both greenhouses and vertical farms.
Combining data and plant science is more relevant than ever. If we apply it in the correct way, we could potentially grow fruits and vegetables more efficiently and sustainably, but how do you combine plant and data science?
Grodan supplies innovative and sustainable growing media solutions for professional growers and home gardeners. For almost 50 years our team has been dedicated to creating the optimal environment for roots resulting in healthy and strong plants.
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Since we invented hydroponic stone wool growing in 1969 we have continuously evolved the Grodan approach to sustainable growing.
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Precision Growing enables professional growers to better control important growing parameters and to ensure the optimal growing environment for root development in stone wool. Grodan is the number one global provider of growing media solutions for the professional horticulture industry, exemplifying our purpose to “empower precision growing for everyone”.
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Grodan products are perfectly placed to ensure sustainable and safe food production while at the same time directly addressing the issue of water pollution.
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As we’ve entered the spring season, the harvest season will start soon for many growers. The e-Gro team recently launched a new product release with new features which will help growers providing more insights during the busy harvest season. We’re very excited to share with you the latest improvements in the Dashboard Module.
On World Water Day, we highlight three solutions that are currently being explored to optimize water usage in the greenhouse.
‘Guru’ Tom Vitters about recycling highlights at Grodan in 2020
November 22, 2020 - Research plays an important role at Grodan and is aimed at making our products and production method even more sustainable and efficient. We also find it important to investigate how the horticultural sector as a whole can contribute to more sustainable and efficient food production. That is why today, during World Science Day, we are offering a preview of an important study that was conducted this year by our partner Wageningen University & Research and made possible by Grodan.
Our world population is growing every single day, and an increasing number of people need access to healthy and nutritious food. At Grodan, we believe that more sustainable food production is a critical solution for this worldwide challenge.
Grodan is member of the Dutch Potting Soil and Substrate Manufacturers Association (VPN). The objective of this association is to continuously improve the substrate sector. As such we, alongside with the other members, determine the policy agenda for growing media. During the member’s council, late June, the policy agenda “A strong, indispensable basis” was presented.
We are the leading supplier of fire resilient stone wool insulation providing solutions for all major application areas, including technical and OEM.
We are a global leader in the supply of innovative stone wool substrate solutions for the professional horticultural based on Precision Growing principles.
We provide customers with a complete ceiling system offer, combining panels with suspension grid systems and accessories.
We manufacture board material mostly used in ventilated constructions, for façade cladding, roof detailing, soffits and fascias.
We develop innovative products used in a wide range of applications, including friction and water management, tracks, coatings, gaskets and fences.
