1. VitaLite: from drain to gain!

2. It is often said…
“In the future it will all be about kilograms of product per m3 of water instead of kilograms of product per m2 of cultivation area.”

3. Do you recognize this? Greenhouse Grower
I am not able to grow anymore, I can’t expand my greenhouse
There is not enough water to irrigate
because of water shortage
I can’t compete anymore in the market
Production costs (per kg product) are high, partly due to high fertilizer cost
What keeps the
Greenhouse
Grower
awake?
How do I reduce or eliminate the risk of infection?
Yield losses occur because plant pathogens in irrigation water (from drain) infect the crop
How can I change the bad ‘polluting’ growers image?
Drain water, containing fertilizers and other substances, is discharged to the surface water

4. Common challenges for growers
Water shortage
High fertilizer cost
What keeps the
Greenhouse
Grower
awake?
Contaminated irrigation water
Pollution & bad image

5. United Farms in Mexico
65 ha high-tech greenhouses in Queretaro, Mexico
CEO: Mauricio Revah
Mission: Internationally competitive and sustainable greenhouse operating company
7/8/2019

6. Fertilizer cost at Finka, United Farms
Average over 15 weeks
Uptake & transpiration
(nutrients & water)
Irrigation = 76 m3/ha/day
= $1053/ha/day*
Drain (46%)
= 35 m3/ha/day
= $875/ha/day*
water + nutrients
if discharged
= waste / pollution
water
+ nutrients
pathogens:
bacteria
fungi
viruses
if recirculated
= plant disease
7/8/2019
* $15.3 (Mexican peso) = 1 US dollar

7. The VitaLite UV disinfection unit
… allows you to recirculate your drain water and therefore save on water & fertilizer …
… without introducing plant diseases and chemical residues to your crop.
7/8/2019

8. The VitaLite UV disinfection unit
Feature
Benefit
Impact on risk
Impact on profit
smart hydraulic design
efficient recirculation of drain water
lower water need,
less discharge water (environment)
low investment, average 30% lower water and fertilizer cost
UV-technology
safe, chemical free, efficient disinfection
99,9% reduction of plant pathogens without risk of chemical residues
crop health,
company image,
low investment
low pressure UV-lamps
energy efficiënt, not much heat
less breakdown of iron chelates, no impact on other fertilizers
low energy use
automated control
constant UV dose,
easy to control and use
reliable disinfection
low total cost of ownership
7/8/2019

9. Fertilizer cost at Finka, United Farms
Average over 15 weeks
Uptake & transpiration
(nutrients & water)
Irrigation = 76 m3/ha/day
= $1053/ha/day*
Drain (46%)
= 35 m3/ha/day
= $875/ha/day*
water + nutrients
Disinfected &
Recirculated
= 10 m3/ha/day
= $250/ha/day*
water
+ nutrients
pathogens:
bacteria
fungi
viruses
7/8/2019
* $15.3 (Mexican peso) = 1 US dollar

10. Return on Investment Fertilizer savings at 29% recirculation:
Up to
15,500 USD
/ha/year
Fertilizer savings
at 29% recirculation:
250 Mex peso/ha/day = 16,3 USD/ha/day= 4500 USD/ha/year
at 100% recirculation = 15,500 USD/ha/year
down to
1 year
VitaLite payback period
can be as low as 1 year
based on fertilizer savings alone
depends on disinfection capacity requirement & efficient use
cost
yield
sales
VitaLite ROI is further increased by:
reduced water cost
increased crop yield (due to improved water supply & crop health)
increased sales (due to better company image)
7/8/2019

11. Satisfaction and cooperation
United Farms installed multiple VitaLites for disinfection of drain water.
“A disinfection system has a rapid return on investment up to 40% of the irrigation water can be reused, saving on the cost of water and fertilizer.”
United Farms and Ridder have signed into a long-term cooperation.
7/8/2019

12. Helping you grow, your way
How much would a VitaLite save you on water and fertilizer?
Shall we calculate
this now?
...and have an answer
right away!
7/8/2019