Opened in February 2019 in Brécey (Manche), a greenhouse of 17 hectares will produce 520,000 tomato plants. This project of the Maraîchers du Mont-Saint-Michel was the wish of the late mayor Bernard Tréhet and will cost 40 million euros [45.2 million USD].
Three varieties of tomatoes have been selected for this cultivation above ground, on suspended rails. The plants grow on rockwool substrates. They are fed by a drop-by-drop system run by a computer in order to provide them with the necessary nutrients. To help fertilize the flowers, bumblebees are placed in the greenhouse, which counts about 60 hives.
The tomatoes will then be sold in clusters, mostly in supermarkets. “The 12,000 tons that we are producing are mainly intended for the local market of Normandy. It’s a high-end production, 80% of which will be found in supermarkets of northwestern France and Ile de France,” explains Jean-Marc Paimblanc, director of the site.
The temperature of the greenhouse never goes below 70°F. The site includes a 12 MW co-generation system connected to the natural gas network. This equipment produces warm water for the heating network of the greenhouse, as well as electricity for the site and for the Brécey area, the energy produced being sent into the distribution network. “The project has a sustainable development dimension, as demonstrated by this co-generation system. Additionally, the site is self-sufficient in water. The rainwater collected on the roof is stored in a 1,765,733 cubic feet basin. It is purified and used to irrigate the plantations,” concludes the director.
Source: actu.fr