Bosman Van Zaal SA was recently contacted by a commercial grower to assist with solving a problem that involved a specialised growing system for cash crops, herbs, leafy greens, and strawberries, etc.
Although the grower had extensive cultivation experience, he needed to find a partner with the willingness and expertise to design and prototype the desired solution/product during the initial research and development phase before going to market. Having worked with us on various successful projects in the past, Bosman Van Zaal became his logical choice.
The grower saw an opportunity in the market for developing a modular, automated flood and drain hydroponic grow system that would offer quick harvesting turnarounds, produce optimum and consistent quality yields, while at the same time, delivering efficiencies in energy and water savings.
With no affordable entry-level system available that offers fertigation control on a modular hydroponic system in the local market, the solution needed to lower the barrier to entry for new growers/businesses starting out, while also providing an easier opportunity for traditional farmers wanting to play in a different space.
Combining the grower’s extensive cultivation experience with our vast industry knowledge we were able to model our designs after an existing concept used in large-scale commercial applications and overcome the logistical challenges posed to deliver a downscaled, modular prototype.
Computerising this system provided the essential data in the form of a feedback loop which would allow us to refine the irrigation and fertigation parameters necessary to produce optimum and consistent quality crop yields. To achieve this we integrated the HortiMaX-Go! computer which was the perfect alternative to other high-tech solutions that would have made the viability of the exercise impossible while adding unnecessary complexity for new growers.
In the end, we were able to successfully design a modular, computer controlled hydroponic system, complete with electronic fertigation dosing and electronic valve connections for irrigation. To top it all off, the automated climate and fertigation controller has the ability to be managed remotely on a mobile device over the internet.
The solution provides growers with the ability to irrigate 24 hours a day and fertigate around the clock if needed. Remote access via the mobile app also allows for the real-time mitigation of potential risks associated with 24 hour cultivation.
Bosman Van Zaal has 90 years of experience in the development and construction of greenhouses and over 40 years' experience with technical systems for international horticulture.
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