Crops become feasible

"Sites are increasingly better equipped, and growers have an increasing number of data available to them. Thanks to LetsGrow it is possible to do something with all those data, as they have made them comparable. With the new information, you can learn more about the crop, so that step by step we make progress with everything," says DLV consultant Edwin van der Knaap.
Van der Knaap was involved with the development of the cut flower module in LetsGrow from the first, and together with one of his customers, a pioneer in growing roses, he has almost five years experience by now. In the meantime, about seventy per cent of Van der Knaap's customers are connected to LetsGrow. The rose consultant says: "The knife cuts both ways. I can work more effectively, and I have a better insight into what is happening on my customers' sites. On the other hand, sites can get more out of their historical data and can learn from what's happening at their colleagues' sites."

Improvement cycle
Van der Knaap has only good things to say about the user-friendliness of the system. "In the past you were working with different Excel sheets. But the numbers in there were no use for analysis. There is now a universal manner of presentation, regardless of the brand of computer a site runs. So you can compare figures from different sites one for one, which makes it all rather clear."
Rose growers which have used LetsGrow for registration for years can use the QMS model linked to LetsGrow to learn much about the relationship between temperature, light and growth from their historical data. Van der Knaap says: "Via LetsGrow, we can register the temperature every five minutes, and then connect this to growth. We determine the temperature sum and the calculated production daily. The amount of light in the greenhouse is also registered. This gives us a better understanding about what temperature and light quantities mean for the plant. We can now see clear relationships between dark days and less growth. Before long we will be able to use this type of insights to control our crops, leading to a cycle of improvement. The crop has become feasible."

Standard
In the rose consultant's opinion, site comparison via the Internet is the future. He says: "We have to make sure no different systems will come onto the market. This sector is too small for several platforms. LetsGrow is well on the way to becoming the standard in my eyes."
He concludes: "Connected thinking is a trend originating with large international organisations, such as Price Waterhouse & Coopers. In horticulture, the same is happening. Just like the employees of a multinational organisation pooling their know-how and expertise, growers will also start to work together more and more closely. LetsGrow makes this possible."