Horticulture visits Niagara Region Canada
In late September a small delegation from the Netherlands Network in Canada and the United States visited several horticultural companies in the Niagara region of Ontario. The purpose of the visit was to meet with several Dutch/Canadian companies, a well-known research institute and to learn about new developments in the field of floriculture and vegetable production in Canada.
Hoogendoorn America Inc., Growth Management (Vineland Station, ON)
The delegation visited Hoogendoorn America Inc. which offices reside in Vineland Station. The company is conveniently located adjacent to the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, a research facility focused on Horticulture Science and Innovation. Mr. Pieter Kwakernaak, the General Manager of Hoogendoorn America provided the delegation with a short tour of their facility and explained how the surrounding area is rich in greenhouse activity and resembles the greenhouse activity that may be found in Naaldwijk. Several promotional videos showing Hoogendoorn’s footprint were shared and discussed, each of which explaining the vital role Hoogendoorn plays within the growing process and what is truly meant by “growth management”. For Hoogendoorn America, “knowledge sharing and collaboration are vital to a house’s success”. In an effort to bridge the gap between the two, Hoogendoorn along with the help from the Dutch representations in Canada, have expressed interest in hosting a two-part “Plant Empowerment” workshop series wherein growers will learn more about the growing process as a whole and to provide the interested parties with the tools and knowledge required to achieve optimal crop production while simultaneously producing high-value products (e.g. IIVO). The workshop will be held on December 2nd, 2021.
Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland Station, ON)
Dr. Ian Potter, the President and CEO of the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre since April 2019, welcomed our delegation to the greenhouse for an in-depth look at the projects that are currently being researched/conducted. Prior to being appointed as Vineland’s CEO, Dr. Potter worked as the Vice President (Engineering) for the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada and as the COO at Alberta Innovates-Technology Futures (AITF) in Edmonton, Alberta. Dr. Potter explained that one of Vineland’s current innovation activities lies in breeding tomatoes, more specifically, “becoming the primary source of greenhouse tomato-on-the-vine genetics for Canadian growers”. Vineland has been researching the ways in which to increase yield, increase/enhance the flavor of tomatoes, better protect tomatoes from disease(s), and to further examine their growth under lit conditions. Further current Vineland research is driven by the need to produce a variety/strain of tomato that is resistant to the “brown rugose fruit virus”. This virus, first discovered in 2015 and not harmful to humans, is a virus that stunts growth and often results in discoloration and distortion of the tomato.
Other research being conducted at Vineland focuses on irrigation decision support systems. The bulk of this research examines data analytics, machine learning and modeling and simulation as well as examining how AI compares/differs from human management and ensuring/monitoring that the plant/crop receives water at the most optimal time possible. New technology and reservations often go hand-in-hand with one another. Growers, although very-well informed and knowledgeable of the growing process, are not research scientists. A vast majority of the reservations stem from feelings of no longer being in control and weary toward heavily relying on technology for peak production. Researchers at Vineland explained that “growers often have a difficult time making the switch to a fully-autonomous house and that it is important we keep them at ease by ensuring that all data is kept confidential.
Havecon Horticultural Projects - North America (Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON)
The delegation concluded their day with a final stop at Havecon Horticultural Projects North America, the Netherlands-based premier greenhouse builder. Havecon greenhouses are built using highest quality steel and are constructed to withstand the harshest of conditions. Havecon considers their greenhouses “the Cadillac of the market and our client notice the difference, and they know the quality of the product they will be getting”.
Havecon have and always been actively looking to further establish their footprint within the realm of growth management, greenhouse construction, as well as additional opportunities within the North American market.
