The 15 Chilean, Peruvian, Colombian and Mexican attendees learned and acquired new knowledge in the production of hydroponics on issues such as: seedling production, irrigation management, nutrition, crop protection, food safety, climate management, structures, harvesting, packaging and marketing.
Crops observed: tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, kale, cucumber, blueberry, golden berry, fish and much more.
States visited: Puebla, Mexico, Michoacán, Guanajuato and Queretaro.
In the state of Puebla they visited the company “Hortisem de Atlixco”, where participants observed the production of grape tomatoes and mini kumatos over perlite.
The two largest agronomy educational institutions in the country were visited; the Postgraduate College (ColPos) and Chapingo University (UACh). The group was received by Dr. Manuel Sandoval and Dr. Jorge Etchevers, along with his collaborator team. They visited aquaponic validation modules, uchuva and aquaponic tomato production with fish waste.
In Michoacan they visited FIRA, one of the most important hydroponics validation centers. Participants saw the production of lettuce in NFT and NGS system, multi-level strawberries, tomato with recirculating solution and interplanting.
In Guanajuato they visited Agroveg and Abogue (greenhouse companies), received by Dr. Jesús Manuel Arreola Tostado. They saw the production of hydroponic organic pepper and a natural heating system with well water. In “Invernadero Tolentino”, they observed vegetables seedling; onion, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, garlic, tomatoes, spinach and many more. They also visited the company Agrícola Nieto, where they saw field lettuce and blackberry, raspberry and blueberry on coco fiber.
In the state of Queretaro they visited the agro-industrial park for high-tech greenhouses. Attendees toured the facilities of the company Agros Lechuga; dedicated to the production of leafy vegetables (watercress, kale, lettuce, etc.) for salads, through high-tech greenhouses, with floating hydroponics and recirculating system pools.
They also visited Agros Tomate; TOV and beef tomato production in high-tech greenhouses, with 24 years of experience. They incorporate advanced technology such as: UV disinfection, heating and CO2 injection. They have a production above 70 kg/m2.
Beside the agronomic visits, they had recreational and touristic activities, visiting places like the Archaeological Zone of Teotihuacan, Morelia, Puebla and Peña de Bernal (the third worldwide biggest monolith). Intagri is organizing the next tour for March, 2017 right now.