Imagine this: you're running trials with a strong focus on the future, aiming for residue-free and sustainable cultivation. But the crop is so heavily affected by fungal growth that continuing the trial within those parameters seems impossible. Then you meet someone who starts thinking along with you. A solution is discussed, installed, and what happens? The fungal issue disappears entirely. Not a trace left.
This is the story of Willem Kemmers from SIF—Sustainable Indoor Farming, based in Bergen op Zoom, in the Netherlands. At their facility, they conduct research on various crops. But fungal growth in the samphire was throwing a wrench in the works. Willem spoke with Lies van Geest from Tuprotec about using ozone. Even at low concentrations, ozone is effective in killing aphids, fungi, and bacteria. Lies explains: "During the COVID-19 pandemic, ozone was used in public spaces to kill airborne bacteria. It works the same way with crops."
© Annet Breure | VerticalFarmDaily.com
Willem Kemmers next to the Airliner
When Willem recalls the first time he saw the results of the Airliner (Tuprotec's ozone machine), his eyes still light up. "The fungus was gone. So were the fungus gnats. And the biological control agents and bumblebees weren't affected at all." He's still amazed. "How can something this simple be so effective? And more importantly… why isn't it used more widely? Especially now, when approvals for crop protection products are slowly but surely being withdrawn."
Of course, there are a few hurdles to overcome before this can be rolled out on a large scale. But on the other hand, those hurdles don't seem insurmountable. So, who's next?
For more information:
Willem Kemmers 
Sustainable Indoor Farming
info@sustainableindoorfarming.nl
www.sustainableindoorfarming.nl
+31 (0)6 2944 7560
Tuprotec
Lies van Geest
lies@tuprotec.nl
+31 (0)6 5321 8754