exceeds the supply, then the crop will naturally push resources to meet the needs of the flowers and fruit. As the plant reduces the investment in the roots
often unpredictable. Even though the glasshouses are relatively old and in need of modernisation, the three growers have demonstrated that they certainly
alternatives to chemical pesticides or complement them so fewer chemicals are needed. With predatory insects , predatory mites , parasitic wasps, beneficial
Swirski-Mite in growing tunnels, which will be a great help. Swirski however needs warmer temperatures before it can be used and that is where Anso-Mite comes
concentrations of trace minerals and calcium. If it doesn’t get what it needs to support this hormonal shift, the plant will start to suffer and become
systems professionalised. A growing demand for our products soon meant that we needed to establish subsidiaries and production units around the world.’ Continuous
Timmer. ‘We realized that we were dealing with a more aggressive strain that needed a new approach and our R&D team started further research.’ Koppert Have
grown. Since many of these plants have their own specific crop protection needs, there has been a concurrent increase in integrated crop management (ICM)
the member EU states, and that this should be operational by 2021. ‘Farmers need more sustainable tools with which to grow healthy and productive crops within
and the results were promising, ” he remembers. “ That was the lifeline we needed. ” Innovation in action Koppert’s predatory mite, Swirski-Mite , quickly
