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.
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.
Do you want to learn more about Grodan? Feel free to sign up to our newsletter. Grodan ensures that growers can make optimum use of its products and services by interpretting the company’s knowledge of and experience with substrate cultivation in terms of up-to-date, crop-oriented advice. Ranging from tailor-made advice from crop consultants to newsletters, seminars and training courses and articles in trade journals.
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?
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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If Grodan were a country, it would be one of the most successful recycling countries in the world. In 2022 alone, Grodan achieved a recycling rate of 65%! By comparison, Germany, considered the most efficient recycling country in the world, has a recycling rate of 68%. Nevertheless, we are not satisfied yet and are working on better and more recycling solutions worldwide.
In summary, utilizing new high-tech devices and software, such as the new Grodan GroSens sensor and e-Gro, in cultivation facilities is vital for achieving precision, efficiency, productivity, compliance, risk mitigation, and maintaining a competitive advantage. These tools empower growers with accurate data and advanced analytics, leading to improved cultivation practices, higher yields, and better crop health.
Due to various challenges facing growers nowadays, it is becoming increasingly interesting to cultivate strawberries in high-tech greenhouses all year round. Stone wool is known to achieve demonstrable benefits as a growing medium for various other protected crops. However, little practical research has been conducted into its suitability for strawberries. That’s why Grodan decided to validate the performance of stone wool growing media in a real-life trial together with the Delphy Innovative Soft Fruit Centre (ISFC) in the Netherlands. We asked Vera Theelen, Researcher Soft Fruit at Delphy ISFC, to tell us more about the trial results so far and their implications for the strawberry market.
This year, the focus of the United Nations observance is how to accelerate the change needed to solve the water and sanitation crisis. The global campaign is called “Be the change”. The aim is to encourage society to take action and change the way we use, consume and manage water. As Grodan, being an active member in this society, our aim is to provide the best solutions and provide high-end services that can support growers to “Grow more, with less” and change towards a sustainable way of growing while respecting natural resources.
One of the 15 global challenges formulated by the Millenium project is “How can population growth and resources be brought into balance?“ One aspect of this challenge is improving the use efficiency of the global resources e.g. nutrients. These nutrients are just as important to agriculture as water.
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World population is expected to grow another 1 billion in just 12 years, and reaching 9 billion people in 2050, creating unprecedented demand for food, and hence agricultural land. To keep up with population and economic growth, food production should increase by 70% by 2050.
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Water scarcity is one of the global challenges. The problem of water scarcity is a growing one. Water use has been growing at more than twice the rate of population increase in the last century. Food and agriculture are the largest consumers of water. As more people put ever increasing demands on limited supplies, the cost and effort to build or even maintain access to water will increase.
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Grodan has been working on various recycling trials for several years, an important step when it comes to sustainability. What are the benefits for growers when we use recycled materials in our products, how exactly does it work, and what is involved?
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One of the 15 global challenges defined by the Millenium project is ‘clean water’. The UN-water (2010) statement contains the following text: “As a global community, we must refocus our attention on improving and preserving the quality of our water, a challenge that requires bold steps internationally, nationally, and locally. Directing global priorities, funding, and policies to improve water quality can ensure that our water resources can once again become a source of life.
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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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“Designed to grow” – Grodan launches new branding initiative to focus public and policymaking attention on sustainable, soilless growing to feed and treat the world’s expanding population
Two of our young colleagues gave an interview the previous weeks in the special edition of the Dutch KAS magazine about young people working in horticulture. Federico Puksic (Cultivation Specialist) and Emmanouela Alexopoulou (Technical Communications Manager) are two ambitious people that after their studies in Wageningen University they joined Grodan to contribute via their roles in “innovating for a greener and sustainable world”.
Grodan has organized the International Propagation Seminar for the 9th time. Plant breeders from home and abroad saw their expectations come true: current topics under the banner of automation and control were on the program. Topics within this theme ranged from robotization during the propagation process, the use of rock wool in strawberry cultivation to climate control and various types of light.
Grodan Launches Vermiculite-Free Plantop NG2.0 Funnel Plug. Global leader in stone wool growing media solutions Grodan announces the launch of a new Funnel Plug. Unlike other stone wool plugs, the patented Plantop NG2.0 Funnel Plug does not require the propagator to add a layer of vermiculite after seeding. That means excellent results and a cleaner work environment, and is particularly important because vermiculite is becoming increasingly difficult to source.
At Grodan, we believe that the greenhouse horticultural sector plays a leading role in the efficient, safe and local production of healthy and sustainable food, now and in the future.
The Dutch horticultural sector binds forces and organizes a full two-day lasting Horticultural program at the Netherlands Pavilion, during the theme-week ‘Food, Agriculture & Livelihoods’ from 17 – 23 February 2022 at the World Expo in Dubai. The first day on Monday 21 February is organized by the public sector and the second day; on Tuesday 22 February is organized by Dutch companies. Grodan, is one of the more than 20 companies that shows how high-tech horticulture can make a sustainable contribution to global food security. The inspiring and interactive program takes place in our price-winning Netherlands Pavilion wherein we combine water, food, and energy. The total program of both Horticultural Days will be broadcast live from the Netherlands Pavilion.
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, tracks, coatings, and gaskets.
We are a global leader in the supply of innovative stone wool substrate solutions for the professional horticultural based on Precision Growing principles.
