Plant Empowerment is adding to its presence in Mexico in the coming years. As one of its focus markets, Mexico offers significant potential for implementing the Plant Empowerment principles. Years ago, the first collaboration with a grower began in Querétaro, Mexico. Now, Plant Empowerment is returning to the same location with a two-day course, scheduled for March 24–25, one day before the GreenTech Americas event.
How Plant Empowerment started in Mexico
Data-driven insights form the basis for the Plant Empowerment principles. These principles have been extensively tested, both in the Netherlands and internationally, over the last decade. One of the most remarkable international projects, conducted between 2018 and 2020, took place at United Farms, a 65.5-hectare producer of tomatoes and cucumbers in Querétaro, Mexico. Querétaro is known for its agricultural innovation and high-tech greenhouse operations.
In this two-year trial, the Plant Empowerment principles demonstrated an increase in net profit while significantly reducing resource use. In partnership with Implementation Partners Hoogendoorn Growth Management, Koppert, Svensson, Cultilene, and LetsGrow.com, and with support from Horticonnect, a multidisciplinary approach was adopted to implement the Plant Empowerment principles.
In 2019, the project reached a milestone with the seminar “Digging Deeper into Next Generation Growing: The United Farms Experience.” This event brought together experts, growers, and researchers to share insights and successes. The seminar marked the first time the principles of Plant Empowerment were introduced and discussed on a global stage, with interest from the horticulture community in Mexico. The project and seminar laid the groundwork for what would later become the Plant Empowerment Foundation.
Results
United Farms dedicated a 0.5-hectare compartment within their facility to this initiative. The compartment was transformed into a living laboratory where advanced greenhouse technologies were combined with data-driven insights to cultivate crops under controlled conditions.
By 2020, the results of the Plant Empowerment trial were compared against a commercial greenhouse fitted with the same equipment and exposed to identical outside conditions. The trial demonstrated a 31% reduction in fertilizer use, 52% savings on integrated pest management applications, a 13.8% decrease in gas consumption, and a 12% increase in production, resulting in a 15% net profit increase.
In addition, the greenhouse achieved a 14% reduction in water use, a significant advantage in Mexico, where water scarcity is a critical issue.
Strengthening the Mexican community
Mexico presents significant potential for implementing Plant Empowerment principles. As the country experiences rapid development, Plant Empowerment is committed to strengthening its presence in this promising market over the coming years.
The Plant Empowerment event on March 24–25 will focus on critical themes tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities within the region’s horticulture sector. In Mexico, key challenges such as cost efficiency, water management, and adapting to high-temperature climates are particularly pressing. With this understanding, the program has been designed to directly focus on these needs, ensuring the event is relevant for all participants.
Growers and other horticultural professionals interested in attending the Plant Empowerment course in Mexico can find more information and register here.
For more information:
Plant Empowerment
www.plantempowerment.com
