What topic is most important in current horticulture? Is it water, is it data management, is it CO2 or is it energy? Why not innovate on all of them is what the team with Ridder must have thought. During the GreenTech, they are launching mulitple innovations that will enable greenhouse growers produce more efficient and with maximal sustainability. "It is an answer to worldwide developments in the field of population growth, climate change and the decreasing availability of natural resources", they explain. Here's what to expect.
Selective sodium removal
For starters there's Nona+. This membrane and electrodialysis technology enables sodium-free re-circulation. "Nona+ guarantees sustainable selective sodium removal", they show. "It reduces the harmful Na+ levels in irrigation water without loss of reusable fertilizer or having the need to ad expensive minerals."
Ridder has developed the Ridder NoNa+ Selective Sodium Removal unit as existing technologies to help growers reduce sodium levels in their drain and irrigation water are often inadequate. Besides lowering sodium levels, reverse osmosis technologies also remove expensive, reusable fertilizers and beneficial polyvalent ions. Technologies based on ion exchange, meanwhile, require the addition of costly minerals such as potassium chloride.
"Ridder NoNa+ is the perfect solution for growers with poor access to high-quality irrigation water or those facing high fertilizer bills, allowing them to start saving and grow healthier and stronger crops", they say.
Preferring the cloud?
Not really in the mood for water? No biggy - we have something else for you. How about the CloudManager. Supported by a dedicated native mobile application, Ridder CloudManager enables greenhouse companies with multiple production sites and physical locations to manage and control every aspect of their operations from one central portal. CloudManager also enables in-app alarm features, secure data storage, user-management and export possibilities.
"Whereas other remote control solutions currently on the market are either web-based or require terminal connections, our CloudManager is the world’s first fully cloud-based greenhouse control solution that not only allows growers to manage their greenhouses in a highly flexible and intuitive way using a dedicated native mobile application, but also enables operators to directly respond to alerts thanks to the integration of push-alarm notifications within that same application", they say.
CO2
Then there's the CO2 Optimizer: The first autonomous tool that will help you to get your CO2 spend in line with plant activity and profits
Dosing CO2 to optimize plant growth is a complex process with many parameters involved. In addition to lacking a clear picture of potential production and profit gains, growers have little insight into the actual cost of dosing all that extra CO2 into their greenhouse. "The revolutionary Ridder CO2 Optimizer helps growers to formulate the ideal C02 dosing strategy by taking into account all growing, cost and marketing parameters", they say. It provides growers with real-time insight into the actual CO2 dosing level and the optimal dosing strategy.
"Rather than just showing the current CO2 levels inside the greenhouse, the CO2 Optimizer provides detailed insight into the plant his actual CO2 needs and his current capacity to convert all that extra CO2 into additional yields. Moreover, by taking into account the real-time cost of dosing supplemental CO2 and the future revenues that the extra crop yields will provide, the Ridder CO2 Optimizer enables greenhouse growers to implement the most cost-effective CO2 dosing strategy and boost their bottom line."
Screens
Still not tired of novelties or preferring a different topic? Ridder has one more left for you. On the GreenTech they will introduce Co-Creation Climate Screens. "It's a service that provides tailor-made climate screens, developed and manufactured in The Netherlands. The fastest solution for professionals demanding flexible and affordable innovative screening solutions, customized to the growers or installers need", they say.
"Thanks to our and fully in-house production of greenhouse climate screens in the Dutch Westland, the epicentre of the global horticulture sector, we're the world’s first climate screen supplier to bring local Dutch growers into the development process of their climate screens, translating their ideas into globally applicable solutions."
With Ridder Co-Creation Climate Screens, greenhouse climate specialists in the Dutch horticulture sector can now participate in the development of tailor-made greenhouse screens, and work with experts to create the ideal growing climate for their specific needs.
"By bringing the research, development and production of greenhouse climate screens to the Netherlands, Ridder we're closing the loop in the Dutch horticulture sector. ‘Made in Holland’ climate screens are the last piece of the puzzle, enabling Dutch growers to benefit from greenhouse projects that will be 100% locally manufactured, meet strict Dutch quality requirements, and profit from the latest in Dutch know-how and innovation."
Innovation Award
It's clear: during this years GreenTech there's something for every grower to be found at Ridder. So far, the innovations that Ridder will be showcasing during GreenTech are already recognized by the horticulture industry; Out of some 50 submissions, the GreenTech Expert Jury has selected and nominated three innovations from Ridder for the prestigious 2019 GreenTech Innovation Awards in the categories Innovation, Sustainability and Impact. The nominated innovations are the Ridder NoNa+ selective sodium removal unit, the Ridder CO2 Optimizer autonomous advisory tool and the Ridder Co-Creation Climate Screens concept. Among other new innovative technology from Ridder, the innovations will be highlighted at the Ridder booth and the Greentech Innovation Lab.
Visit Ridder at GreenTech, booth 12.210
For more information:
Ridder
www.ridder.com