Indoor Ag-Con Asia

Growcoon: Excellent trial outcome using hydroponics presented

Bigger, thicker, healthier: use of Growcoon in a lettuce crop trial with a hydroponics system proved a great success. Klasmann-Deilmann Asia Pacific and Maan Biobased Products shared these results at the Ag-Con Asia event in Singapore.

The 4th Indoor Ag-Con (Agricultural Convention) Asia took place on 15 and 16 January 2019 at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Singapore. With its main focus on under-glass cultivation of food crops, this event is very much geared towards innovation. During this two-day convention, experts reported and discussed on the latest indoor farming technologies, which will be a key market in the future. The conference attracted many trade visitors from throughout the region, looking for inspiration, technical solutions for their own nurseries, and networking opportunities.

Klasmann-Deilmann Asia Pacific and Maan Biobased Products were in attendance, presenting recent trial results using Growcoon. The propagation system was trialled at Kok Fah Technology Farm, one of the most prominent growers in Singapore, with hydroponically produced lettuces. Both the deep-flow technique (DFT) and the nutrient film technique (NFT) were applied. And the results were truly impressive.

Crop performance was presented, allowing direct comparison between Growcoon, plastic net pots and foam cubes. Lettuces produced using Growcoon were larger, had thicker leaves and healthier root balls. After seeing the good trial results, many growers from China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore expressed their interest in using Growcoon with their own hydroponic systems.

Attending from Klasmann-Deilmann Asia Pacific were Bert Desmet (Managing Director), Cedric Fauré (Sales Manager), Dave Ebizawa (Sales Consultant Japan) and Michael Hwang (Sales Analyst) who – along with Ted Vollebregt (Managing Director, Klasmann-Deilmann Benelux) – spent virtually the entire time involved in expert discussions. This was also the case for André Jansen (Owner) and Bart Oude Wesselink (Managing Director) who had travelled to China representing the Maan Group.

The Singaporean government had previously awarded ten vegetable-farming companies with subsidised 20-year leases of two-hectare plots in 2018 to stimulate local food production. These businesses were encouraged to adopt and assess innovative, efficient high-tech growing systems in their farms, such as multilayer hydroponic systems supplied with suitable light using LED sources. The company Kok Fah Technology Farm mentioned above is one of the selected growers. New land offers and growers will be announced from 2019 onwards. This is seen as another great opportunity to promote Growcoon and our growing media in Southeast Asia.