(Aurea 2010) NOMINEE 06: Grow Rasad - state-of-the-arts greenhouse for vegetables

In February 2009, company Grow Rasad opened greenhouses at 13,000 square meters, equipped with the state-of-the-arts technology for growing nursery plants, in Srem's municipality of Irig. In the newly built unit, which is unique in our country, both conventional and organic plants can be grown. Opening of the unit created jobs for 30 people, while another 15 seasonal workers and about 60 collaborators are planned to be hired. The investment is worth RSD 252.5m, RSD 35m of which were provided by the Executive Council of Vojvodina. Grow Rasad's greenhouses are the result of the joint investment of Dutch company Grow, which has ten companies on four continents, and Novi Sad-based company Planten. The greenhouse applied for GlobalGap standard in 2009, and the quality was confirmed by certification company TUV Reinailand Germani. According to the manufacturer's export plan, 80% of production will be sold on the territories of the CEFTA countries.

INNOVATION

Due to significant need for quality production of nurseries in our country (about 800,000,000 pieces of vegetables), Grow Rasad started contemporary production of vegetable nurseries in Irig, in the vicinity of national park Fruška Gora. The greenhouse was built at total surface of 13,000 square meters, 10,000 square meters of which are occupied by the production section.

The greenhouse is equipped with the state-of-the-arts technology for production of nurseries, which includes a computer control of all micro climate conditions for production. The system for dosing pesticides is situated in 9 robotized and mobile rain wings, which are controlled by means of a remote system. Special characteristic of this facility is the fact that complete production is organized on a paved floor. That means that plants have no contact with the land inside the facility. All that is provided by a specific system - so-called ebb & flood, which is controlled by means of a special computer. The whole quantity of water that is used for watering the plants is being returned to a reservoir through the system of pipes, filtered and used for watering again. That means that the greenhouse does not create any excessive water that is released into environment, which makes it completely ecologically sustainable.

In late 2009 and early 2010, Grow Rasad started production of another specific product, which is unique in Serbian market. It is a lettuce with root, which is grown hydroponically and directly packed for the needs of households. In that way it can be preserved longer, even ten or more days. Such product is ideal for supermarkets and mega markets because the quantity of lettuce that is thrown away is reduced to a minimum, and it is always of ideal freshness and quality.

In addition to being unique in our market, this product is also an innovation in the markets of neighboring countries because they do not have the growing systems to produce such lettuce. Major share of production is intended for export.

SOCIAL UTILITY

Greenhouse in Irig and its way of doing business is not conceived to develop by itself. It is located in the area where numerous small manufacturers operate and buy nurseries for their own needs, as well as for the needs of production for local green market. In addition to animating its workers, company Grow Rasad also animates numerous manufacturers in the area. Also, the company cooperates with all local companies and government institutions, as well as monasteries on Fruška Gora, which are regularly supplied with the required quantity of nurseries through the Executive Council of Vojvodina.

Grow Rasad advocates the use of renewable energy sources. Greenhouses in Irig do not release harmful matters into environment, but recycle and reuse them to feed and water the plants. Construction of a big pool of 9,000 cubic meters is underway. Once completed, it will be used for collecting rain water, which is ideal for watering vegetable crops. This water is less in use in Serbia because there are no conditions for its keeping. However, Grow Rasad's project makes collecting and use of rain water in the irrigation system very easy.

COMMERCIAL SUCCESS

The project for modern production of vegetables is the one of the kind in Serbia, and the investment in Irig-based facilities is exceptionally big, particularly because it is a relatively new product in our market. However, the first year was also used for certain marketing activities, while the manufacturers got familiar, through a series of lectures, with the significance of quality greenhouse in production of vegetables.

The real results will be visible this year because the manufacturers are contacting the company to ask about quality nurseries, but what is truly encouraging is that they see Grow Rasad as a partner with whom they can achieve a business success.

The selection for 2010 Aurea award is backed by insurance company Wiener Städtische.