Grodan offers a crop-specific range of substrate slabs for vegetable growing, specifically for tomato, cucumber, sweet pepper and aubergine crops.
Grodan's blocks and plugs shape irrigation plans, ensuring consistent plant growth tailored to diverse conditions and growers' requirements.
Grodan specializes in substrates for floriculture, with a focus on rose and gerbera crops known for their perennial cultivation properties.
More than 50 years ago, we noticed a tiny plant growing in a piece of abandoned stone wool on a building site. Just as it's designed to do, nature had found a way to grow. And it inspired us to design a system to support it – a smarter, soilless way of growing that we evolve, explore and refine continuously. A system that promises high yields of consistent, high-quality fresh food and medicinal crops to feed and treat the world's growing population.
The substrate we have innovated to support soilless growing is made of stone wool – a clean and recyclable material formed of natural, abundant basalt rock. It's thanks to this material that soilless growing places minimal strain on our world's precious resources, using up to 20% less fertiliser, 50% less water and 75% less land that can be given back to nature to rest and rewild.
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Growing crops, produce and plants soillessly means growing them reliably. Because both the conditions and the stone wool substrate they're grown in are reliable. Every decision made in the greenhouse today has a major impact on tomorrow's results. We support our deeply-rooted knowledge with our digital solutions to improve cultivation from root to fruit.
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As the world's population continues to grow, so too does the need for healthy, fresh food and medicinal crops. Since our soilless way of growing isn't dependent on season or location, it can be done anywhere, anytime, meaning it's reliable and consistent – and high yields can be readily available whenever and wherever they're needed.
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Since our way of growing is soilless, it supports the human world without depleting the natural one. Using up to 50% less water and 75% less land, higher yields can be reliably achieved with a much smaller physical footprint. Meaning more land can be given back to nature to rest and rewild.
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Whatever the crop, our way of growing protects diminishing water supplies. While nothing can thrive without water, soilless growing allows plants to do so with up to 50% less of it than soil-based cultivation. And the water it does use is recycled and reused – as are the nutrients within it.
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We know that innovative growers demand innovative solutions, which is why we aim to set new standards. Our clean stone wool substrate is brought to life by exactly the right systems and software needed to steer the growing process with close, careful precision – for excellent yields of medicinal crops and healthy, fresh food. Reliably high-quality plants that can help tackle many of the world's health issues.
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Those who work with us, grow with us, collaborating as we explore a purpose-led path together. One that starts at the intersection of nature and tech. That includes sensors, stone wool and strawberries. Fresh produce, medicinal crops and sharing knowledge. We're a company for people who believe in feeding and treating the human world, without depleting the natural one – a company where everyone grows.
Learn moreDo 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?
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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Global strawberry cultivation is at a turning point. Growers are faced with sharp cost increases, while they also need to continue to guarantee high quality and consistent products, as consumers demand healthy, fresh fruits throughout the year. That is why commercial strawberry propagators and growers are constantly looking for ways to optimise their growth strategy, maximise their yields and minimise their costs.
A recent trial by Grodan has demonstrated that strawberries can be propagated and cultivated on a stone wool substrate while maintaining high quality and attractive fruit size. Additionally, the yields and Brix values were higher than with traditional methods.
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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Hydroponic lettuce and other leafy greens will soon start to dominate sales at supermarkets and chain restaurants. With up to 12 times the number of crops a year than from open fields and twice the crop density, no other production method can compete. Production environments must however be clean. Stone wool is both clean and inert, making it ideal for producing hydroponic lettuce and other leafy greens.
Grodan and Signify collaborate on a 3-year trial to optimize year-round tomato cultivation for 40% lower heat input amid rising energy costs and sustainability efforts. Partnering with BASF, Ridder, Normec, and Wireless value, they organize knowledge transfer activities.
Grodan recently became the first company from the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)sector to join the Gender Alliance for Innovation in Agriculture (GAIA). This organisation is dedicated to supporting the fourth agricultural revolution in Europe through inclusive and sustainable solutions. In this blog, Gonneke Gerkema, Marketing Director at Grodan, explains how Grodan’s participation in GAIA will help to address the gender inequalities in the industry.
Grodan was proud to participate in the first of its kind report that validates the water savings potential in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). Led by the Resource Innovation Institute (RII),
Cultivating in stone wool provides full control over nutrient levels. With regular analysis, growers monitor pH and EC, crucial for influencing plant growth. pH management tips are crucial for optimal results.
ROCKWOOL's Roermond plant takes a crucial step in electrifying two production lines, aligning with the science-based CO2 reduction targets for 2034 and net-zero emissions by 2050.
Grodan & Fluence, horticultural leaders, share mid-term results of a breakthrough trial at Wageningen Uni. , transforming winter hydroponic strawberry cultivation with stone wool and advanced LED tech boosts strawberry growth & quality and keeping the plants out of dormancy.
Roermond, January 24, 2024. Grodan, a leading supplier in soilless growing solutions and substrates, has become the first company from the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) sector to join the Gender Alliance for Innovation in Agriculture (GAIA). To mark the occasion, Grodan’s Marketing Director Gonneke Gerkema contributed to the GAIA launch event at the European Parliament on January 24th, 2024.
The trial started September 2023 at Botany and will explore principles of low energy growing under fully dimmable Philips LED lights. Focus will be on plant transpiration and nutrient uptake in a 260 m2 department fitted with active air de-humidification. This year's strategy is built on the knowledge gained from last year's successful tomato trial by Signify. By modelling the expected crop development and performance, both Grodan and Signify expect to reduce up to 40% on heat input by dimming the lights based on crop needs, energy prices, and outside light conditions.
Grodan and Fluence join forces to develop new concept for year-round, high-tech strawberry cultivation with a demonstration trial at Wageningen University & Research in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.
Grodan launches "Designed to grow" branding to spotlight sustainable, soilless growing for global food and medicine needs.
Grodan is part of the ROCKWOOL Group and committed to enriching the lives of everyone who comes into contact with our solutions. Our expertise is perfectly suited to tackle many of today’s biggest sustainability and development challenges, from energy consumption and noise pollution to fire resilience, water scarcity and flooding. Our range of products reflects the diversity of the world’s needs, while supporting our stakeholders in reducing their own carbon footprint.
We are a global leader in the supply of innovative stone wool substrate solutions for the professional horticultural based on Precision Growing principles.
