GreenTech Awards

Jennifer Polanz

The GreenTech trade show in the Netherlands has long since come to an end, but there were a couple of unique product innovations that came out of the show that are worth mentioning.

GreenTech’s awards recognized two innovative new products:

• Corvus Drones: The company’s concept is the use of a fully automatic flying drone to monitor greenhouse crops, with the automation relying on visual odometry software (where the drone continually analyzes camera images to fly) instead of GPS signals, which can be weak in the greenhouse. Initial applications would be for seed germination and crop growth monitoring.

• Van Iperen International: The company’s GreenSwitch Original product is the first Nitrate fertilizer from an organic source. According to the company, which focuses on specialty fertilizers and biostimulants, “it is a pure, crystal clear liquid formulation suitable for high-tech greenhouses and any open field fertigation or foliar application in fruit, vegetables and ornamentals.” The benefits include reducing the nitrogen emissions and carbon footprint of growers without a major impact on the operation. IG