A high-tech project for sustainable strawberry cultivation in Northern Europe

Over the last few months, J. Huete International has been 100% involved in a sustainable strawberry cultivation project, with which our client intends to manage pests and diseases in an integrated way and to produce with techniques that minimise the use of phytosanitary products, thus encouraging, for example, the appearance and care of beneficial insects.

These crops will be grown in raised troughs with coconut substrate. The system makes the substrate more aerated, prevents the roots from slipping out of the substrate bags and moisture accumulation, improves root development during the growing cycle and prevents root diseases, extending production cycles and improving yields. This makes cultivation more sustainable and efficient.

To put all this into practice, we have designed and built a greenhouse project with advanced technology that aims to be an example of sustainability and innovation in the region, thanks, among other things, to:

• Its reinforced structure, which supports the weight of both crops and carcasses, as well as the weight of snow and the load of strong winds.
• It has almost seven metres of distance to the ridge.
• It has a double roof window (butterfly window).
• The cladding is double plastic inflated to increase insulation and better preserve the temperature inside. It is currently the best covering that a greenhouse can have from an energy saving point of view. The air chamber between the two plastics means that this type of covering acts as a great insulator and prevents heat loss, thus saving on gas consumption. In addition, the double cladding allows the environment to be kept cool in summer.
• Recirculators and air generators have been installed that run on gas, both indirect and direct combustion, the latter providing the CO.

This project adds to the long list of works carried out by J. Huete International on the five continents. This international vocation allows us to take our capacity for innovation to many places around the world. Aware of the importance of the development of tools for agriculture, at J. Huete International we have been working for years on the design and calculation of structures, technological components, performance systems and the manufacture of straw that bring new possibilities to the sector.

We also collaborate in research projects with the Polytechnic University of Cartagena and the Metal Technology Centre, as well as the Institute of Development of the Region of Murcia and the Centre for Technological and Industrial Development.