Sustainable and resilient cultivation on organic substrates

How important is sustainable cultivation for your company? What is the impact on cultivation control? And how do you grow resilient crops? The substrate is essential for these cultivation choices.

After years of fundamental research, Greenyard Horticulture launched the Greenyard Grow Bag, a substrate mat that is filled with a 100% organic substrate. This sustainable alternative is suitable for growing various types of greenhouse vegetables (tomato, cucumber, eggplant, pepper, strawberry). Natural substrate mats are fully in line with high-tech greenhouse growing techniques, but also offer several advantages.

Research
The Greenyard Grow Bag is filled with organic raw materials that are 100% compostable. The substrate has a balanced and stable microbial life, which offers unique advantages over inert substrates, which might be more susceptible to plant pathogenic microorganisms. Greenyard has been conducting fundamental research for several years into the microbiological composition of organic substrate mats. This research took place in close collaboration with Ghent University, PC Hoogstraten and WUR and led to fundamental insights into the disease ‘crazy roots’ in tomato cultivation. Several times, research demonstrated that thanks to their rich microbial composition, the symptoms of crazy roots do not occur in the Greenyard Grow Bags. In addition, the researchers found that the intrinsic characteristics of the Greenyard Grow Bag could even counteract the development and spread of the crazy roots bacteria.

Research in practice
In real conditions, many growers have indeed observed that the crazy roots disease didn’t developed in the Greenyard Grow Bag, despite the presence of crazy roots on their farm. Moreover, in many cases the plants have higher yields, they are healthier and their fruits taste better and more intense, this thanks to the airy and draining organic substrate. Some growers have carried out tests in which the same variety was grown simultaneously on the Greenyard Grow Bag and on the stone wool variant. The discussed benefits of taste were determined, allowing them to distinguish themselves from bulk production with the Greenyard Grow Bag.

Sustainable
In addition, the sustainability of the mat is an unmistakable added value. After cultivation, the bags are 100% compostable into a high-quality soil improver. The natural ingredients of the Greenyard Grow Bag also have a buffering effect. In addition, additives such as benign soil fungi or biostimulants can be added in advance, something that is not possible with stone wool or coconut substrates. As a result, the use of agrochemicals can be greatly reduced.

Retail
Greenyard Horticulture has been asked by some prominent retailers to be at the basis of a sustainable and tasty cultivation, in collaboration with some growers. The sustainably grown tomatoes are sold under private label and give a positive boost to the image of the retailer. Various projects are also emerging in which retailers are increasingly trying to grow locally, with the lowest possible impact on the environment. Thanks to the unique organic substrate, the Greenyard Grow Bag fits perfectly in this story.

About us
Greenyard’s Horticulture division is a leading European producer of potting soil, soil improvers and soils covers for ornamental plant cultivation and the cultivation of mushrooms, vegetables and fruit. We provide a wide range of products to both professional growers and hobby gardeners, fully tailored to their needs. We are also a leading supplier of urban green solutions. By focusing on innovation, quality and service, we make an important contribution to a more sustainable agriculture – viable for the grower, healthy and good for the environment.

We give a presentation on this subject at GreenTech Amsterdam.
Greenyard @ GreenTech Amsterdam 2018 » stand 5.08 (Hall 10)

Greenyard Horticulture Belgium NV
Skaldenstraat 7A, 9042 Gent, Belgium
+32 92 18 03 30
info@greenyardhorticulture.com
www.greenyard.group
www.greenyardhorticulture.com