Bulgarian fruit growers on a business and study trip to the Netherlands
For three days, a group of 14 Bulgarian fruit growers and experts visited Dutch colleagues and were introduced to Dutch technology, planting material, equipment and know-how as part of the Netherlands Fruit Basket Bulgaria PIB program.
Between 10th and 12th of July, Bulgarian producers of stone, pome and soft fruits met with their Dutch colleagues and providers of high-quality planting material, technologies, equipment, products, knowledge and services. They exchanged views on the potential for sustainable productivity and competitiveness growth in Bulgarian fruit production and on how to deal with challenges on the way. A wide range of possible Dutch solutions and practices to be adapted to and implemented on Bulgarian soil were actively discussed. Netherlands Fruit Basket Bulgaria cluster aims to respond to growers’ needs from A to Z throughout the production process.
Breeding and planting material
The business delegation visited two large fruit tree nurseries – Verbeek and Fleuren, along with the global leader in blueberry plant production – Fall Creek, and Genson – supplier of first quality soft fruit planting material. Latest plant production developments and varieties were discussed, focusing on combined benefits from disease resistance, virus-free, climate change adaptation, high productivity, lower chemical usage, convenient cultivation, excellent taste, attractive consumer appearance and long shelf life. It was highlighted that with modern varieties, rootstocks and growing techniques, fruit producers do not need to compromise anymore and can meet various requirements from processors, traders, retailers, HoReCa and consumers. Fresh Forward – a breeder of strawberry and apple varieties, incl. the Magic Star club apple variety, shared the whole process of variety development, testing and marketing. The concept, specifics and requirements for the so-called club varieties and their supply chain were also presented and received with high level of interest.
Technology, equipment and products
The tour started with visit at an orchard of Fruithandel Van Os planned and mapped by Van Oostrum Woerden, where the group saw solar panel integration above the orchard. This is a technology of interest to Bulgarian growers, given the suitable solar energy conditions in the country and their attempts to add value and lower costs.
Innovative solution for a key challenge in Bulgarian fruit production was presented by FrostFans – a mobile anti-frost turbine system. With changing and highly volatile climate conditions, many Bulgarian growers, especially of cherries and plums, suffer from late frosts damaging their crop. NetTeam shared best practices, along with many tips and tricks, in anti-hail net systems to mitigate climate risks.
When it comes to efficient growing, fully automated fertigation systems have proven as “a must”. Smart usage of water and fertilizers does not only significantly lower costs (incl. labor) and reduce human error risks, but also contributes to sustainable production. VGB Watertechniek demonstrated a full-scale integrated and automated fertigation system recently installed at Berry Brothers farm.
Bato – producer of plastic pots and consumables, and BVB – a substrate supplier, showed their products allowing highly controlled nutrient and water environment. For smart usage of inputs H.S.S. also presented their innovative spraying equipment, including a fully autonomous robo-sprayer.
Knowledge, know-how and services
The successful public-private partnerships in science and research, and well-developed private consultancy and research services drew the group’s attention. The delegation visited Randwijk fruit research and experimental station, where Wageningen University and Research collaborates with private partners for more than 100 different trials simultaneously, accumulating by the years a precious knowledge base to improve the whole production and supply chain in the Netherlands and abroad. Delphy’s soft fruit experimental station gave a great example of market-based science and research business that provides tailor-made consultancy and trial services for growers and suppliers worldwide.
Netherlands Fruit Basket Bulgaria
Netherlands Fruit Basket Bulgaria is a 3-year PIB program by cluster of 15 Netherlands suppliers of high-quality solutions for fruit production aimed at intensifying technology, knowledge and know-how transfer to Bulgarian growers. The initiative is supported by the Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland and facilitated by LNV Attaché Netwerk (LAN) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bulgaria.