The Dutch company VGE initially focused on disinfecting pond and swimming pool water. In recent years, however, this UV-C equipment manufacturer has become increasingly active in the world of fresh produce cultivation, supplying large systems to Latin American banana growers. "There's a huge demand, particularly in Ecuador. Treating irrigation water with UV-C prevents infections on plantations without using pesticides or chemicals," begins Ruud van de Ven.
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Deadly diseases like Fusarium (TR4) and Moko are increasingly pummelling banana crops. "Fusarium TR4 is a highly resistant fungus that spreads through contaminated soil, tools, and water. It's tough to control once it's spread through a plantation. Once a field is infected, the soil can remain contaminated for up to 30 years, making growing bananas again almost impossible. Massive areas are destroyed, causing enormous damage."
"Moko disease, caused by the Ralstonia bacterium, is just as dangerous. It spreads rapidly through water, soil, and infected plants, leading to wilting and plant death. Cavendish bananas, being genetically identical, make them particularly vulnerable, thus exacerbating the problem. If these diseases aren't brought under control, they could severely reduce global banana production, affecting millions of people who depend on this crop," says Ruud.
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VGE, however, has a solution: Its UV-C systems feature multiple low-pressure lamps. These have already totally eradicated TR4 on various banana plantations in Southeast Asia and Latin America. "The benefits are huge. You don't need to use traditional chemical treatments and can reuse surface water. You can also reduce the need for expensive, unsustainable water wells, thereby saving growers money. A typical 100-hectare banana plantation in Ecuador requires consistent irrigation, especially during the dry season from June to November."
"On average, each plant needs about 25 liters of water per day. With roughly 200,000 banana plants, daily water consumption amounts to 5,000 m3. Over a year, that's around 1.14 million cubic meters, most of which is used during the dry months when there's little rain. By treating the irrigation water, you can reuse surface water. So, instead of pumping up 1.14 million m3 of groundwater per 100-hectare banana plantation, you can reuse the surface water," Ruud explains.
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"Disinfecting irrigation water is vital in the war against TR4 and Moko. Both spread rapidly through contaminated water. To protect banana plants, especially the vulnerable Cavendish banana, it's essential to treat and disinfect irrigation water and limit the spread of these diseases. TR4 and Moko are becoming increasingly resistant to conventional pesticides. Chemical treatments could, thus, become less effective. That resistance forces growers to rely on alternative methods."
"Those include UV-C water treatment, strict hygiene measures, and resistant varieties to protect banana plants. Wageningen University & Research has recently extensively tested and validated our VGE Pro HortiGuard solution," says Van de Ven. "It's now being used successfully worldwide. By implementing that solution, banana growers can significantly reduce the risk of disease spread, help protect their crops, and secure global banana production's future."
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VGE collaborates with local partners to install and, eventually, repair the systems while remotely monitoring the setup. "Our customization is distinctive, and we calculate everything with clients to arrive at a reliable solution. All our products are tested internally before shipment to guarantee their quality. Our systems are also easy to maintain. You can, for example, service the UV lamps without having to shut down the whole system," Ruud concludes.
For more information:
Ruud van de Ven
VGE
Mob: +31 6 12381797
[email protected]
www.vgepro.com
