Koppert Cress has been growing unique and flavorful cresses, edible flowers and other microgreens in Monster, South Holland (NL), for many years. In the company's modern nurseries, innovation is central, as are sustainability and quality. In its newest greenhouse, Koppert Cress deliberately chose an innovative solution from ErfGoed: the AirFlowFloor.
This aerated cultivation floor combines air treatment with heating and cooling in a single integrated system and thus fits seamlessly with the way Koppert Cress has organised its cultivation and energy supply.
Within Koppert Cress, technology plays an important role in achieving a stable and future-proof cultivation process. Bart van Meurs, responsible for technical innovation, is closely involved in the choices surrounding new systems and installations.
He outlines the basis of their approach: "Light, temperature, humidity, watering, nutrients and CO₂ must be in balance. Ultimately, you want to create a stable ecosystem in which the crop can grow healthily and vitally."
Koppert Cress has sustainability deeply embedded in its operations. The ambition is clear: to grow without fossil fuels. Therefore, it uses thermal storage and geothermal energy, among other things.
"In another greenhouse, we use high-quality heat, but the return flow from that is actually still perfectly usable. So the question came up as to how that residual heat could be reused." says Bart.
The AirFlowFloor offers a solution here for Koppert Cress. Bart explains: "We now bring that residual heat into the AirFlowFloor. The combination of underfloor heating and air flow maximizes the use of this residual heat. The air flowing past the underfloor heating via heat exchangers absorbs heat. This allows us to cool the residual heat back even further, we get maximum efficiency from our geothermal connection and the heated air reaches the crop directly."
According to Bart, this is precisely where an important advantage lies: energy that would otherwise be lost is reused within the cultivation process.
Koppert Cress grows a wide range of products, from cresses to edible leaves, flowers and buds. These products are grown in different ways, such as on gutters, on tables, hanging and on the ground.
This diversity requires flexibility in the layout of the greenhouse and in the technical systems used. The AirFlowFloor is in line with this. Air treatment and heating are fully integrated into the floor, without compromising the greenhouse design or growing methods.
Therefore, the system is hardly visible in the greenhouse. Yet it plays a central role in the climate under and around the crop. Air is distributed evenly from the floor, creating a uniform microclimate throughout the greenhouse.
One of the most important effects of the AirFlowFloor is its direct influence on the microclimate around the crop. Through controlled air flows, air is supplied in an even manner. This helps to better control temperature, humidity and CO₂. Instead of fluctuations, a more stable climate is created, right at crop height.
Humidity control is a crucial component here. "With this system, we can add dry outside air and control the temperature precisely. Even in winter, cold outside air, when warmed, can absorb a lot of moisture. This allows us to better control humidity in a simple way," Bart points out. "An additional advantage is that there is no need to open windows or screens to control the climate."
The administration of CO2 also becomes easier with the AirFlowFloor. Where this is traditionally done through pipes or hoses, CO2 is now included in the air flow from the floor. This creates an even distribution throughout the greenhouse and gets it exactly where the crop can utilize it.
The collaboration between Koppert Cress and ErfGoed began at an early stage. ErfGoed had an ongoing trial in its own test greenhouse. A follow-up step was laid out in Division Q's "De Broeikas".
In this pilot environment, an improved version of the system was implemented on a larger scale and extensively tested in the field. This phase provided space to experiment, optimize and resolve any bottlenecks before the system was implemented on a larger scale. Through intensive testing in a controlled environment, teething problems could be resolved and the system could be further developed into a reliable solution.
After several months of use in the new greenhouse, the conclusion is clear. The system functions stably and contributes to a healthy and vital crop. When you walk through the greenhouse, the end result is especially striking. The crop looks vital and uniform, with a clear balance in growth and development.
"I would say: look around and let the plant tell the story. There is a crop here that performs great. The AirFlowFloor plays a key role in that!" concludes Bart.