Imtech and PlantLab: high-tech CSR nurseries for energy-saving and sustainable 'footloose' production of flowers, plants, vegetables and fruit
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
* Sustainable, high-tech, space-saving 'footloose' CSR nursery of the future
Den Bosch, Gouda - PlantLab (developer of innovative plant growing concepts) and
Imtech (technical services provider in Europe) are starting up a strategic joint
operation to enable the sustainable cultivation of flowers, plants, vegetables
and fruit in high-tech enclosed nurseries. This will lead to the creation of
innovative CSR nurseries that will allow efficient and sustainable 'footloose'
(i.e. at any given location) production of plants. This technology is the next
generation of modern horticulture, and is carried out on extremely small
surfaces, allowing the efficient and cheap production of flowers, plants,
vegetables and fruit for the local market in an environmentally friendly way
(minimal CO2 production, none of the negative environmental effects of
transportation).
The concept is based on an entirely new method for producing flowers, plants,
vegetables and fruit (Tuinbouw 3.0®). In contrast to current production methods
in greenhouses, external (day) light is no longer necessary. In fact, the less
interaction there is with the weather outside, the better. It is also possible
to grow plants in stacked tiers. The light is controlled via high-tech,
environmentally friendly LED lighting. Crucial roles are also played by CO2
dosing, air treatment, heating, as well as 'green' IT infrastructure and
environmentally friendly automatic control. PlantLab is acting the part of
initiator and developer, whereas Imtech is responsible for the complete
sustainable technical implementation.
Future perspective
Within a few years, a new type of balanced high-tech CSR nursery could be
created throughout the world, where products are cultivated in completely
conditioned stacked tiers without daylight. These CSR nurseries are close to the
consumers and offer many advantages: a higher production level with a precisely
predictable harvest time, and a manageable product that offers more than the
traditional equivalent when it comes to appearance, flavour, quality and
nutritional value. This sustainable and environmentally effective method of
cultivation is employed on a very limited area in places where it is currently
impossible due to climate conditions, water shortages or lack of space.
Moreover, no pesticide are used and only up to 10% of the water required for
current cultivation methods is necessary.
Three basic types
In concept studies, PlantLab and Imtech have jointly designed three basic types:
* Modular R&D unit: a high-tech facility in special containers for research
into balanced cultivation in several tiers;
* Plant production unit: a concept with which flowers, plants, vegetables and
fruit can be cultivated very efficiently and effectively inside a building.
In this way, a building with 14 cultivation tiers covering an area of only
100 by 100 metres, is sufficient to provide a city the size of Den Bosch
(140,000 inhabitants) with its daily requirement of fresh products;
* Fresh Garden Mall: a concept for CSR nurseries in inner cities, 'local for
local', fresh for immediate consumption, and sustainable. China and Japan
are already carrying out tentative experiments in this field.
Imtech is currently carrying out the engineering and realisation of the required
technical infrastructure for the first two basic types. There is worldwide
interest in these concepts.
Centre for Growing Concepts Opening
Gerda Verburg, outgoing Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, is
today opening the Centre for Growing Concepts in Den Bosch, where the University
of Applied Sciences HAS Den Bosch and PlantLab are carrying out technical
cultivation research into the further development of this high-tech and
energy-saving solution for the sustainable 'footloose' production of flowers,
plants, vegetables and fruit.
More information
Media: Analysts & investors:
Pieter Koenders Jeroen Leenaers
Manager Corporate Communications Manager Investor Relations
T: +31 655 74 65 85 T: +31 182 54 35 04
E:pieter.koenders(at)imtech.eu E:jeroen.leenaers(at)imtech.eu
www.imtech.eu
Imtech profile
Imtech N.V. is a European technical services provider in the fields of
electrical engineering, ICT and mechanical engineering. With approximately
23,000 employees, Imtech achieves annual revenue of more then 4.3 billion euro.
Imtech holds strong positions in the buildings, industry and
infrastructure/traffic markets in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany,
Eastern Europe, Nordic, the UK, Ireland and Spain and in the global marine
market. In total Imtech serves 20,000 customers. Imtech offers added value in
the form of integrated and multidisciplinary total solutions that lead to better
business processes and more efficiency for customers and the customers they, in
their turn, serve. Imtech also offers solutions that contribute towards a
sustainable society, for example in the areas of energy, the environment, water
and mobility. Imtech shares are listed on the Euronext Stock Exchange Amsterdam,
where Imtech is included in the Midkap Index. Imtech shares are also included in
the Dow Jones STOXX 600 index.
PlantLabprofile
PlantLab develops unique mathematical prediction models that allow the exact
planning and management of plant production processes, so that the time for
harvesting, the harvest yield and the product quality can be strictly managed,
thus ensuring the best possible link between production and market demand. After
PlantLab proved and then patented the feasibility of cultivation in completely
conditioned spaces without daylight in 2006, it quickly took the following steps
that have led to a new vision of plant production. PlantLab's home base is the
new Centre for Growing Concepts at the University of Applied Sciences HAS in Den
Bosch. This hypermodern research centre developed by PlantLab includes 8 climate
cells in which plant research can be carried out under 56 different
environmental factor combinations simultaneously.
[HUG#1424559]
pdf version press release: http://hugin.info/130755/R/1424559/373112.pdf
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 17.06.2010 - 07:31 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 22595
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contact information:
Town:
Gouda
Kategorie:
Business News
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