The development that first fall out in the vegetable gardening sector are now also clearly aim place in the ornamentals sphere , with an increasing number of marketplace player demanding that their suppliers apply as few chemicals as possible on the flowers and plant that they deliver . This shift key inspired Dümmen Orange to countersink a new course of instruction just a few years ago .

Modernizing cultivation and marketsDümmen Orange has a sum of 20 branches , 7,700 employees , and a turnover of 355 million euro . Driven by their ambition to be a loss leader in the modernisation of cultivation and market , the troupe made sustainability a key focus area in its business surgical operation a few year ago . Koppert was contacted to serve them achieve this .

The two companies first seem at how Koppert could help to make the production of multiplication fabric by Dümmen Orange significantly more sustainable , start with the production of chrysanthemum cuttings in Uganda . Was it possible to achieve a yield of cuttings using a minimum of chemical products in which the usance of biologic crop protective covering could be maximize ?

The quick app of beneficials‘GreenGuard was the answer of our collaboration , ’ explains life scientist Manuela van Leeuwen from Dümmen Orange . Her first job was at chrysanthemum stock breeder Fides , but she now coordinates sustainable production projects for flowers and plants at Dümmen Orange .

‘ We develop the GreenGuard protocol together with Koppert . It ask a method in which we use as few chemicals as possible on our chrysanthemum farm in Uganda , ensuring that the chemicals that do need to be used are not harmful to the beneficials . The most sensitive beneficials can get get down quite easily as a result , and the cultivator can immediately relinquish the beneficials after receive his GreenGuard cuttings . ’

‘ GreenGuard strengthens the place of the grower in the market , ’ states Van Leeuwen . ‘ And all the links in the chain that come this , the right way up to consumers across the world , profit too . ’

More say-so , more possibilitiesThe GreenGuard protocol for potted chrysanthemums require the use of the predatory mites Amblyseius swirskii ( Swirski - Mite ) and Neoseiulus californicus ( Spical ) , of the insect - parasitizing nematode Steinernema feltiae ( Entonem ) , and of Horiver gummy traps . ‘ These are the products that are presently authorize in Uganda , ’ explains Koppert advisor Ellen Klein .

But a great spate of work was need to get these authorizations passed . ‘ This was due to the unfamiliarity of the Ugandan government with beneficials and the way in which they put to work . But we have managed to overcome this hurdle and are now working very effectively with the regime . We are currently getting everything in club to practice for authorization for other products . If we can use more beneficials in Uganda , we have more options to further contract the use of chemical substance . ’

Towards lotion in more cropsKoppert and Dümmen Orange are now do work on the app of GreenGuard to more crops such as genus Pelargonium , roses , anthuriums , poinsettia , and a number of standard plants . ‘ It is our goal to finally practice GreenGuard to all our product , ’ says Manuela van Leeuwen . ‘ The success of its coating to chrysanthemums has served as a source of inspiration for Dümmen Orange . ’ ‘ And for Koppert too ! ’ adds Ellen Klein .

For more information : Koppert Biological Systems[email   protected]www.koppert.com

Dümmen Orangewww.dummenorange.com