Van der Avoird Trayplant
‘With a production area of some 65 ha, we can call ourselves European market leaders when it comes to propagating strawberry and raspberry plants. A position we try to maintain through continuous innovation, striving for the very best quality, reliability and sustainability’, says Jelle Broeders of Van der Avoird Trayplant. ‘In 2004, for instance, we were the first Dutch plant grower to market tray plants of ever-bearing strawberry varieties on a commercial scale. The Growcoon also ties in well with that innovative approach.'
‘Based on our sustainability ambition, we consciously chose for Growcoon. Because it is biodegradable, completely PPF-free and we can process it fully automatically.’
Why Growcoon?
‘To meet a customer demand, we started cultivating starting material in Growcoon some time ago. In that pilot phase, we were able to gain experience with the biodegradable cutting and seeding plug holder in a very accessible way. With excellent results. This year, no less than 70% of our raspberry propagation material is grown in the Growcoon. The biggest advantage is that it immediately forms a plug, making automated handling easier and faster. The Growcoon therefore adds durability and reliability. Both for the plant and for the staff. Next year, we will further optimise the propagation of our raspberry propagation material. With millions of Growcoon plugs!
Trayplant wants to create sustainable impact
‘At Van der Avoird Trayplant, we want to make a positive impact on the world around us. Therefore, over the past 10 years we have invested heavily in the areas of labour, water, energy, environment, nature, biodiversity and education. We focus on our entire operational management and strive for the most sustainable product, an optimal process and the best quality. Call it: efficient and sustainable entrepreneurship. With a yield per hectare that is substantially higher than traditional cultivation. The Growcoon contributes to this and we like it a lot.’
‘Because in the Growcoon every plant becomes a well-rooted plug, we can sort 100% automatically. This brings enormous labour savings. More importantly, we think it allows us to deploy our employees sustainably and offer them a pleasant working environment and better working conditions.’
Growcoon & Automation
‘The Growcoon is very well automatable in several ways. Because the net forms a plug from the very first moment, automated handling can take place quickly, allowing earlier transplanting, for example. The net provides grip, protects the root ball, thus preventing a stress reaction. The result: the crop can root unhindered, which speeds up the propagation process.’ ‘But automation is also available for processing the Growcoon itself. As our ambitions reach further, we have been conducting tests with the Automatic Growcoon Dispenser Advanced since this year. This brand new dispenser unstacks the Growcoon and places them - fully automatically - in the tray. Automation plays an increasingly important role in cultivation. It makes Growcoon a complete solution.’
Growcoon: sustainable & reliable
‘At Trayplant, sustainability is not a tool, but a goal. Day in and day out, we deploy the latest techniques to make our production more sustainable and work climate-neutral. The Growcoon perfectly matches this ambition: it is 100% biodegradable and completely free of pathogens, pfas, heavy metals or other toxic components. And furthermore, Growcoon leaves no harmful residues behind. Wherever possible, we opt for organic cultivation and minimize the use of crop protection products. With Growcoon, we grow resilient, healthy and uniform crops, which not only reduces the risk of disease, but allows us to grow even more sustainably.’
Klasmann-Deilmann
It’s impossible to get a result without a good substrate, which is why Growcoon and Klasmann-Deilmann have joined forces. Klasmann-Deilmann is the market leader in substrates, so its experts know exactly what your crop needs. They work with you to maximise yields from your cultivation. When you decide to switch to the Growcoon, they can help you on your way.
Request a free trial kit now
If you’d like to find out what the Growcoon can do for you, request a free trial kit. Together, we’ll determine which Growcoon is best for your system. We’re happy to help.