More and more growers in Morocco are switching to hydroponic (substrate) cultivation. Existing companies are also expanding their acreage. Altogether, this leads to a rapidly growing market for quality coco substrates, and for Dutch Plantin, says Wim Roosen. He's attending the Berry Conference in Agadir, Morocco, together with colleagues Alfonso Labajos and Sathyaraj Pandian.
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Strong growth in tomatoes and peppers
Dutch Plantin has been active in Morocco for several years and is seeing sales of its cocosubstrate products soar. The strongest growth is seen in tomatoes and peppers. "Production can easily increase by up to 20%, and both the quality of the crop and the fruits are higher," Wim explains. "The soil no longer needs to be disinfected, and water use is lower."
Expanding acreage and stricter EU regulations
Sales are also rising as existing users expand their greenhouses or switch more of their acreage to substrates. This trend is seen in both fruiting vegetables and soft fruits such as blueberries and, to a lesser extent, raspberries. "Most Moroccan production is destined for the EU, where residue regulations are becoming increasingly strict. Substrate cultivation helps growers meet those requirements," Wim adds.
© Dutch Plantin BV
New products for soft fruit growers
For the soft fruit market, Dutch Plantin has developed several products, including the Ozone 20, the Opentop Growbag Blueberries, and the 5kg BlueBlocks for berries. "Since we've focused on premium-quality coco from the start, the pots used for blueberry cultivation can last up to ten years. That makes it an attractive and sustainable choice."
At the Berry Conference, the company is also presenting its new Fresh30 and Fresh70 mixes, products designed specifically for growers in warmer climates. The two variants stand out for their finer or coarser structure, allowing growers to fine-tune substrate properties to local conditions.
Right: Fresh70
Dutch Plantin
