BVB Sublime is made of Polygrow, a polyurethane foam with a high pore volume. It has been specially formulated for use in horticulture, so it is extremely airy, hydrophilic and retains its shape well. The material is inert, which means it does not react with other substances.

“The food safety of this substrate has been extensively tested and confirmed,” said company director Jaco Dijkshoorn. “Neither we nor our partners are taking any risks in this area at all.”

It is also a pure and consistent substrate because it is produced industrially.

EXTENSIVELY RESEARCHED

Over the past few years, the substrate has been extensively tested by horticultural companies and at the Sint Katelijne Waver vegetable-growing research station in Belgium. In the 2008-09 growing season, the yields achieved at the research station were five per cent higher on average with three cucumber crops and seven per cent higher from one tomato crop.

Practical trials this year in the Netherlands and abroad will show whether these results can be achieved again. As many as 51 growers are currently trialling BVB Sublime, some of whom are using it in half or all of their greenhouses. It is also being used in Spain, Greece, Canada and Korea, says Dijkshoorn.

RESATURATE AT ANY TIME

The tests in 2008-09 revealed more benefits for growers. The substrate can be resaturated at any time. And the quality of the slab, said the company, is maintained throughout the entire growing process. In this way, the grower can control moisture levels well, achieve optimum crop control and grow in a more generative way. This is a big advantage for growers in warm climate zones, too.