Dec. 10, 2010, Berkel en Rodenrijs, the Netherlands – Jamshed Merchant, Canada’s assistant deputy minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, visited the de Singel Rose Nursery earlier this year to better understand Clean Light’s UV crop-protection technology. The two-hour visit was hosted by Clean Light BV of Wageningen and Clean Light Inc. of Vineland Station, Ont.
Clean Light BV invented and patented this UV crop-protection technology. UV crop protection is an innovative technology that has made it possible to combat moulds, bacteria and viruses – without chemicals – that affect important agricultural and horticultural crops.
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Rose cultivator Ferry Brabander explains the benefits of UV crop protection to Syntens innovation consultant Paul Asselbergs (second from right) and Jamshed Merchant, assistant deputy minister with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (far right). Clean Light’s Harry J. Shea is in the background.
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The most important benefits offered by this technology are that it leaves no residue on the plants and it does not create extra moisture in the greenhouses.
Merchant was impressed by this potential of the relatively new technology. “It’s impressive. I can see a number of opportunities for using this technology in Canada, particularly with large agricultural companies. Businesses could benefit by reducing their crop-protection expenses."
Harry J. Shea, representing the Vineland Staton office of Clean Light, emphasized that even if fungicides are still necessary from time to time, the grower still benefits from this technology. “By using the Clean Light technology as part of an integrated pest management program, and thus reducing the number of fungicide applications, we can preserve the effectiveness of the few fungicides still available to us.”
Clean Light founder Arne Aiking said interest in his UV concept is growing. “Right now, we have 75 customers in 13 countries on four continents.”
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