They did n’t invent the term ICM at Royal Brinkman . It already exists , and WUR is also research it . What Royal Brinkman is now doing together with partners and growers is yield the conception of Integrated Crop Management a practical app for nursery gardening , with extra tending to data and digital techniques .
And focusing on successes already achieved , by making changes in one of the 15 knowledge areas in the ICM system access . After all , crop tribute is no longer just ' reaching for the nebuliser when something has go wrong ' .
This image is still very much animated in the societal and political debate . mass know the flowers in the sweetness were n’t farm without pesticides , and they have warm persuasion about it . The sector has to deal with this . " The sphere does n’t have as strong a vocalisation like some other large company , " says Thomas Kern , Business Development & Strategy Manager at Royal Brinkman . He focalize on sustainable growth and Integrated Crop Management ( ICM ) .
Not more expensiveThe greenhouse industry has already deal many footprint . Communicating this well to consumers is proving unmanageable . datum and success stories can help . Royal Brinkman wants to bring in both area . The transition to resilient polish must be faster , specially now that social and political pressure on harvest protection product is increasing .
With the ICM system approach introduced this fall , Royal Brinkman is take aim a across-the-board look at solving craw protective covering problems . The system approach developed blend 15 expanse of knowledge with information .
The broad - spectrum chemical substance crop protective covering products that growers used to be capable to rely on are more and more disappearing or are already non - actual . There are veneration that with new means , including for example the preventative role of biologic control factor , it will become more expensive to control diseases and pests .
Thomas , who is also a board member at sector organizations Artemis and Agrodis , recognise the perception that with registration in craw protection , cultivation can also become more expensive . " Yet this is not always the compositor’s case , specially if you’re able to work with dear data . " With precision crop protection , it is possible to treat only a specific corner of the greenhouse with a craw protection product , instead of the entire greenhouse .
DataFor preciseness harvest security , reliable data point is essential . The industry can also learn from good information . With converting information into note value , the sector is still in the early stages , Thomas note . " We notice that there is still often a lack of expert information to take steps with digital crop protection . Significantly more information is need to steer efficaciously in refinement . "
Royal Brinkman also introduced the digital datum analysis political platform Auxin this spring . The political platform cook it possible to make connections between data modules and between hitherto often break up data . The first growers start using Auxin this year .
Collecting data takes time , Thomas realises . The agriculturalist who initiate figure out with Auxin were already working with the app MyScout . The app is an alternative to the traditional notepad and newspaper publisher assignment for the crop protection specialist .
Unlike a cursory piece of paper , the datum collected through MyScout persists and is of great value . " The key now is to invest in tone data for successful Integrated Crop Management in the future tense . In a few years , you will get hear the effects of the efforts we are making now . "
MyScout , in use by raiser Hans van Holstein
Small successesHowever , growers do n’t have to await that long . With the right treatment , they can achieve winner even now thanks to the ICM system approach . For example , mechanical measure , such as induction of insect netting , can reduce pest insistency in the greenhouse . More and more agriculturist are prefer to mesh their greenhouse .
But is it ' nonstarter ' if a pest worm causes problems despite this measure ? No . What matters is the system attack . In all 15 knowledge areas from the ICM approaching , growers can often still make strides .
In late year , the idea of crop protection has progressively moved from therapeutic to preventive . The next pace is ' from prevention to prediction ' .
The scout data from MyScout is combine in the Auxin chopine with other nursery measurements so that the advice in the Advice Generator is specifically tailor to the unequaled conditions in one ’s greenhouse . This creates personalized and situation - specific advice that is directly linked to the grower ’s measurement event . Thomas stresses that we are not there yet : the automatic liaison between MyScout , Auxin , and the Advice Generator is still under exploitation . We are working firmly to make this possible soon .
speedy technical developments are forcing Royal Brinkman to switch trend regularly . What initially seemed a promising solution may soon be overtaken by new techniques with gamy effectiveness . " This constant adapting brings challenges , especially in convincing users of the value and reliability of the recent technology . "
capture usedDeveloping such innovative organization requires significant investment , something the total industriousness need to get used to . " Traditionally , we are used to a more static innovation operation , but speedy technical progression now requires a different approach and mentality . For a ship’s company like Royal Brinkman , with origins as a trading company , this means a switch to thinking in price of retentive - condition investment and hold growth costs . "
Choosing an ICM system approaching raise the interrogation of what is presently the weakest link . " Although it may seem obvious , this often turns out to be masses themselves . And by that I intend everyone involved in in systems intellection , from development to carrying out and use . "
Thomas gives the example of the Advice Generator , which is fed with more and more data . " As a result , crop protection advice is getting ripe and good . Still , the advice can sometimes disagree from what medical specialist or growers are used to , which can initially moderate to doubts about the technology . "
The opinion that ' green finger ' can do more than engineering can sometimes get in the fashion of expert procession , notes the Business Development & Strategy Manager . " television camera and sensor are a good model of this ; they really can now perceive much more than we humankind can . The crux dwell in what we do with these observations . "
TimeFor the transition that greenhouse horticulture is in , it is authoritative to start relying on innovative applied science . However , it is not the only condition for a successful transition to resilient refinement . " funk the resource package should also not bechance too fast . Investing in new technique takes time . In the interim form , however , imagination must remain useable to properly tackle disease and pests . "
Thomas adduce the readjustment of Biocontrol , also known as ' unripened broker ' , as an exemplar . Registration takes a long prison term . The industry is not moving fast enough . This spring , cherry red growers therefore ran into problem .
Another example Thomas knows from tomato cultivation , and the fight against Tuta absoluta . " This pest can be brought under ascendence with the assistant of monitoring with pheromones . The next challenge will be Tomato Looper . Here , too , a like system approach can avail , but the foresightful authority procedures are again an obstruction . "
Read more about Auxin in an clause release this leap .
CompetitionMost of the 15 noesis areas in the ICM kitchen stove do not insure crop protection products . The whole is more complex . Royal Brinkman explicitly take in other companies from all the cognition areas involved to collaborate on the ICM course . But will that invitation be accepted ?
Thomas acknowledges that cooperation between many party in this new realism can be challenge because of rivalry . " Besides the existing connection of knowledge collaborator and companies , more and more new fellowship are joining to collaborate on ICM . you may work well even with formerly compete companies , provided everyone declares their interests and is willing to seem for the common denominator . " Growers also have a role to work in this . They often already cooperate with several party and can encourage cooperation between unlike parties .
In the field of digital scouting , developments with the later technologies are now moving fast . Small successes are important to actuate participants to continue efforts , starting with data assemblage . Royal Brinkman has taken the first steps with partner and growers , and that makes Thomas positivist . " Initiative from the sphere itself is most effective . It is more easily cover that way . "
For more information : Thomas KernRoyal Brinkman[email protected]www.royalbrinkman.nl / icm
© FloralDaily.com/Thijmen Tiersma
