The demand for coconut-based growing media in Spanish-speaking markets is increasing. The expansion of soft fruit and vegetable cultivation in Southern Europe and Latin America is driving interest in alternative substrates, which is why Dutch Plantin has expanded its team with Alfonso Labajos. Alfonso, who has worked in intensive soft fruit and vegetable cultivation for over 30 years, is focused on supporting growers in these regions. His role involves advising on the implementation of coconut-based growing media in various production systems.
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"My mission is helping growers thrive with sustainable and smart solutions – just like our coconut products", Alfonso says, adding that coconut substrates are used in high-tech greenhouse cultivation as an alternative to traditional substrates. Their properties impact water retention, root development, and nutrient management. "The adoption of these substrates depends on climate conditions, crop requirements, and production goals."
New in the Dutch Plantin assortment is FRESH50, which was already used in strawberries, and blueberries, but is now also used in the growbags for vegetables and flowers.
"Basically our growbags are manufactured by making uniform blends of coarse and fine raw materials: coco-chips, coco-fiber and coco pith. Or as a special Double Layer: coco-chips at the bottom and coco pith on top. Some manufacturers however use so-called 'crush' for growbags: varying too much in our opinion, a lack of uniformity and a too limited moisture retention capacity", Alfonso says. Now, the company's technical department, in collaboration with their R&D designed and constructed new machines for improved structures. "This results in great physical characteristics", Alfonso says. "Air-% from 40-50% at -10 cm with high uniformity in a perfectly balanced coarse structure. Each grade complements the other one. That's unique." He adds growers experience that bags are more uniform in water holding capacity. "This is important to maximize yield. The structure stays strong and airy during the crops' cycle(s) without losing height."
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Growers and industry professionals will have the opportunity to discuss coconut-based growing media at the upcoming infoAgro Exhibition in Almería. The event will feature discussions on substrate solutions and their applications in controlled environment agriculture.
Dutch Plantin