NEW CROPS: VANILLA, CURCUMA, BLACK PEPPER AND MEDICINAL CANNABIS

GreenTech contributes to the overall health trend with showcasing the optimalization of new crops such as vanilla, curcuma, black pepper and medicinal cannabis. The largest and most progressive growers of fruit, flowers, vegetables and medicinal cannabis from all over the world come together at the yearly trade show and share their practices and knowledge.

Health
The overall health trend and the demand of consumers for new and exotic crops create opportunities but also challenges for the horticulture. A number of scientists are calling for action when it comes to our food system. Vitamins and minerals become more and more important. These changing views create promising opportunities in the coming years for the horticulture. The vision of GreenTech is to contribute to good nutrition and wellbeing.

Vanilla: Why is vanilla an alternative crop?
Filip Noort, crop specialist at Wageningen University and Research, discussed the topic “Vanilla in a Greenhouse, a new chance?”. Noort: “Vanilla is a special crop to work with – because growing, flowering, developing and curing will take a lot of time – but for pollination you won’t get a lot of time”.

Curcuma and black pepper: How do you deal with these crops that actually occur in Africa, Asia and South America?
Eight partners (Hudson River Biotechnology, Phytonext, Royal Euroma, Verstegen Spices and Sauces, farmers' organisation STOL, Greenhouse farming Bergerden, Van Hall Larenstein and the municipality of Lingewaard) started a collaboration for the NEXTgarden Ingredient Farm project. This project has the aim to innovate the knowledge of the crops curcuma and black pepper. The availability, quality and authenticity of spices from Africa, Asia and South America are an issue in the spice sector. How can we grow these in the Netherlands ourselves? Taks: "Domestic cultivation can bring many benefits in terms of sustainability, logistics, availability and costs”.

Medicinal cannabis: What about regulations?
A trend in the world of horticulture is the cultivation of medicinal cannabis. Immediately a lot of questions pop-up. Juriën Koster, Vice President International Relations at Ofinext, says: ‘’Medicinal cannabis has enormous potential but we are at the very beginning of understanding the medicinal value of cannabis. Professionalization of the (medicinal) cannabis industry has just begun and the next years will decide who will remain and who will phase out”.