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Italy: Hydroponic greenhouse with 35 thousand tomato plants

Giulia Bozzoli recalls that the 35 thousand tomato plants were transplanted on 21st December, her first day as a grower at the hydroponic greenhouse in Crevalcore (Bologna). "I started working here in May 2017 and, at the end of last year, the owner Florian Gostner asked me if I wanted to become a grower."


Giulia Bozzoli at the centre holding the crate of tomatoes. Behind her, left to right: Beatrice Di Corrado, Elisabeta Gruia Ana, Barbara Vincenzi

The greenhouse was set up almost two years ago and is entirely dedicated to bunch tomatoes. Around ten people work on 15 thousand square metres. The greenhouse is owned by Fir-El Green Power, the same company that set up a similar 12-hectare greenhouse in Ferrara.



"We started harvesting tomatoes 15 days ago and will continue until November, when we will uproot the plants for a new cycle."



"The programmes with various retail chains are going well. Around 65% of the produce is currently exported abroad, mainly to Austria, Switzerland, Germany and Great Britain," adds sales manager Alessio Orlandi.



The greenhouses uses the heat released by a biomass plant. Mineral wool is used as a substrate and most agronomic operations are computerised: from mixing to fertigation and their timing as well as the opening of skylights, heating and ventilation. Sensors detect both internal and external conditions. The water used for fertigation is recycled with a closed cycle system.

Contacts:
Fri-El Greenhouse
Alessio Orlandi - sales manager
Email: alessio.orlandi@freshguru.it
Web: www.fri-el.it
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