Innovative solutions to monitor and improve water quality
Water is the foundation for the growth of every plant. It is an essential building block for photosynthesis as well as for transpiration to enable transport through plants and allow them to regulate their temperature. Sufficient and good-quality water with the right concentration of nutrients is therefore a critical factor in the success of all forms of cultivation.
Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture, together with industry partners, develops innovative systems and technologies to monitor and improve water quality for greenhouse and open field production. Ensuring good-quality water with the right nutrient concentration and a low water and environmental footprint. Answer questions related to water supply for greenhouse horticulture at all levels: plant, crop, cultivation, company and region.
Intelligent crop protection
Sustainable crop protection is a prerequisite for cost effective and socially acceptable business and a safe product. Together with companies and other partners in the sector, Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture is developing new and improved crop protection strategies that can be translated into practice. Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture advises governments and industry, while stringently testing the effectiveness and level of applicability of products, technologies and organic pesticides. In its efforts Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture is supported by an international network and unique crop protection research facilities.
Sustainable crop protection is a prerequisite for cost effective and socially acceptable business and a safe product. Together with companies and other partners in the sector, Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture is developing new and improved resilient crop protection strategies to further expand organic pesticides and automation. They advises governments and industry, while stringently testing the effectiveness and level of applicability of products, technologies and organic pesticides.
Cost-effective routine measurement of tomato flavor
Tomato flavor has been characterized by a combination of various aromatic compounds, sugars and acids and these parameters can to a certain degree characterize the flavor. But fruit texture also plays a role in the perception of these substances during eating. Sensory data indicate that the flavor compounds should not only be present in the fruit tissue but that these should also be released during chewing. The inclusion of texture parameters in flavor measurements has proven to be useful to characterize tomato flavor. A combination allows for a quick and cost-effective method for routine screening of tomato flavor in the complete chain from breeding, growing, shipping to selling tomatoes.
Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture constructed a model with instrumental parameters for sensory attributes that predicts tomato flavor with an accuracy of 4 points on a scale of 0 – 100. The model predicts that flavor is best in fruits with a high Brix value, a high acidity and a high juice percentage, whereas the fruit wall may be firm, but only in combination with a certain bite and juiciness. The recently updated model is now used by different chain partners.
Sustainable, efficient, advanced crop-production systems
Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture develops concepts and integrated designs for greenhouse horticulture systems such as mobile and substrate-free systems, innovative greenhouses and systems for the early detection of plant pathogens in crops. Ranging from total concepts to small improvements, the innovations in cultivation and production systems offered by Wageningen UR save on labor costs and increase the efficiency and sustainability of companies.
Tool for achieving best possible, lowest energy greenhouse climate
Achieving the best possible energy consumption and greenhouse climate is a complex matter. The consumption or generation of power has a direct impact on greenhouse climates and crops, while optimizing this climate for the production of the best yield and quality at the right time directly affects energy consumption. Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture supports the sector and individual companies with innovations and expert advice.