The Sweeper consortium was invited to hold the first live demonstration of its new sweet pepper harvesting robot at the De Tuindershoek greenhouse horticulture firm in IJsselmuiden. The so-called ‘Sweeper robot’ is the world’s first harvesting robot for sweet peppers to be demonstrated in a commercial greenhouse.

First demonstration of new sweet pepper harvesting robot in the greenhouse

The Sweeper consortium was invited to hold the first live demonstration of its new sweet pepper harvesting robot at the De Tuindershoek greenhouse horticulture
Residual heat for greenhouses in Heerhugowaard

Household waste heats sweet peppers in the Alton greenhouse horticulture area

A household waste disposal company in Alkmaar (HVC Alkmaar) will be supplying the greenhouses of the NH Paprika sweet pepper farm in Heerhugowaard with
An uptake analysis gives growers an accurate picture of which elements the plant is actually taking up, enabling them to fine tune the nutrient solution

Nutrient deficiency in peppers despite perfect drainage values

When several of the sweet pepper plants at Zwingrow in Honselersdijk (Westland, the Netherlands) were found to be growing more slowly than the rest,
If sweet pepper plants receive a high dose of CO2 over a long period in the winter, they get used to the high level. That produces “lazy” leaves

Sweet pepper growers can get by with less CO2 in winter

Sweet peppers can manage with 800 ppm CO2 in the winter months. Supplying more than that doesn’t boost photosynthesis: in fact, the sweet pepper
with a smart watering strategy it is possible to reduce emissions to such an extent that there is no need to invest in costly cleaning equipment.

A smart watering strategy can reduce emissions to almost zero

The adage that every downside has an upside even applies to the regulations on discharges, which are becoming ever stricter. Full recirculation in sweet
Danny van der Spek is becoming more and more keen on NGG, although a lot of knowledge is still needed to translate the principles into practice.

‘New approach to climate control whets the appetite for more’

Dutch growers who are directly involved in research into Next Generation Growing soon discover that they can apply small parts of it to their
Hyperparasites of aphid predators are an ever increasing problem. A joint project has been set up to investigate ways of controlling the hyperparasites.

Controlling hyperparasites: on the trail of the best scents

Hyperparasites in the crop can completely disrupt biological crop protection. Sweet pepper growers in the Netherlands know a thing or two about that. But
Controlling calcium is a complicated business

Controlling calcium is a complicated business

Calcium is a delicate mineral in the plant. A deficiency can cause problems such as blossom end rot in sweet peppers and tomato, burnt
Rotten spots caused by Rhizopus

Rotten spots caused by Rhizopus

Rhizopus stolonifer is a fungus that can cause stem and fruit rot in several crops. It is also a well-known bread mould. Rhizopus is
Schut Papier, based the Netherlands, brought a new type of paper made from raw materials such as tomato and sweet pepper plant fibres to the market.

New type of paper made from tomato and sweet pepper plant fibres

Schut Papier, based in Heelsum, the Netherlands, brought a new type of paper made from raw materials such as tomato and sweet pepper plant
Biobest develops new weapon in the war against aphids

Biobest develops new weapon in the war against aphids

Combating aphids with biological crop protection agents is everything but easy. This is why Biobest is involved in relentless research into new ways to
Sweeper was launched at the beginning of 2015. The goal of this project is to develop a harvesting robot for sweet peppers.

‘A robot has to give you a little something extra.’

Sweeper was launched at the beginning of 2015. The goal of this project is to develop a harvesting robot for sweet peppers. The robot
Sweet bell peppers in Dutch greenhouse

‘De-leafing curbs energy loss’

Evaporation - and therefore energy loss - can be limited by removing excess foliage. This principle is, however, applied to only a few crop