A NEW WAY OF WORKING WITH JANNY MT MODULES
Janny MT is a modular natural storage solution for fresh fruit and vegetables which prolongs shelf life and maintains produce freshness in a classic cold room. Janny MT modular storage solution is flexible and can adapt to every farm size. The modular system is an efficient and sustainable way to answer some of those post harvest challenges, such as weight loss, decreases in quality or significant peeling.
CABBAGE PRODUCTION
Storage in Janny MT modules allows the cabbage calibers to be maintained and to keep leaves fresh and crispy. There is also a clear benefit during cabbage peeling as only the first leaf is peeled, limiting waste and labour. This method of storage offers a way of selling local cabbage until June. Simon, quality manager from Domaine des Loveresses commented, ‘The modules have given us a great deal of flexibility and peace of mind in storage. The important point is to follow Janny MT instructions. I have had very good support from Céline Kuentz, and following instructions, I haven’t had any problems.’
STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION
Strawberry growers are adapting to the market demands. Shorter distribution channels,demand for local products, and many different sales channels are emerging and
expanding. Growers and pack houses need to be adaptable and be able to expand and reduce their capacity throughout the season. A good way to do this is by adding more
flexibility into their storage regimes. Whatever the size of the farm, growers need to find ways of storing volumes of fruit to smooth out production peaks, optimise harvesting, and reduce losses in the field and in storage. Janny MT modular system provides flexible storage, under controlled conditions so that produce is maintained as fresh as possible for as long as possible with minimal handling damage. ✽
JUST ROSES
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NEW ICL RESEARCH AT BANGOR UNIVERSITY 
ICL is collaborating with Bangor University to carry out research on the effects and benefits of organo-mineral fertilizers for turf. MRes (Masters by Research) student, Deniz Arslan, is carrying out the yearlong research at Bangor University, and believes that the findings could be of great benefit to several sectors.
“We will be looking at how efficient organo-minerals are comparing to mineral and organic versions and how they all effect soil health,” she said. “The outcomes of this research can be important for all fields and will provide information to help fertilizer users make informed decisions.” Mineral fertilizers are very commonly utilized and there is plenty of research detailing their benefits and the issueswhich can arise from poor product selection or over-application, for example leaching of unused nutrients from the growing zone of a crop.
On the other hand, organic fertilizers offer other potential benefits, such as supporting microbes in the soil, but are often described as not performing as efficiently or productively as mineral fertilizers. “Organo-mineral fertilizers, combining the benefits of minerals and organic sources, could be a more sustainable step for turf managers to take,” said Deniz. “I hope to prove that organo-mineral fertilizers are indeed beneficial for the soil and environment, and with no negative performance issues for turfgrass. Agricultural trials do show higher yields and performances which is promising, but of course it is different when measuring turf. You don’t necessarily want to grow more or longer grass.”
Gronamic, ICL’s organo-mineral fertilizer brand, will be used in this research project. The experimental trials will include glasshouse trials of perennial ryegrass with Gronamic Sport High N and Gronamic Golf High N, contrasting with equivalent mineral and organic fertilizers. “This unique research project will focus on plant growth, soil health and nutrient use efficiency factors, making use of the advanced equipment and facilities available at Bangor University,” said Deniz.
The scholarship named KESS (Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarship) is led by Bangor University and links companies with academic expertise and universities to collaborate in
research projects for PhD and Research Master qualifications. ICL supports several research collaborations and has close ties with the universities in order to help bridge the gap between industry and academia.
For Deniz it means that she has a direct link to the industry and access to expert knowledge in high quality turf management. With all the resources at her disposal she is hopeful that this research could have a global reach. “Finding solutions for conventional mineral fertilizers will be beneficial for all fields and industries, from agriculture and turf management to landscaping, and hopefully I can be part of that development. In the long term it can even impact the low-income nations and industrializing nations as well, for instance by applying it to urban green spaces and sustainable land management whilst keeping prices low as mineral resources are slowly depleting,” she said.
Please contact ICL on +0044 (0) 1473 237100 or visit icl-sf.co.uk or icl-sf.ie if you are in Ireland. For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf. ✽
