Breaking grounds in organic fertigation with The Conscious Farmer

In the past season, several substrate growers in the Americas have made improvements, predominantly in the art of organic liquid fertigation. Mark Velders with The Conscious Farmer (TCF) shares an update after recently his partner in TCF Aldo did on the topic of plant protection.

Mark: “We know that conventional fertilizers are relatively simple to work with. They are all soluble in water, you can calculate the dosages and recipes easily, you can recirculate them, what you put in comes out, and last but not least, they are affordable.” Many of the substrate growers TCF works with begin with a conventional mindset when they start the journey toward organic liquid fertigation. “However, similar to pesticide-free plant protection, it requires a different mindset and approach.”

Aldo van Os and Mark Velders from The Conscious Farmer ‘on the job’

There is a lot that can go wrong
Organic fertilizers come with undesired extras, carbon substances, and ballast salts, stresses Mark. “Bacteria love the additional carbon, they will generate biofilm in your pipes and hoses, use up all the oxygen available, and produce a lot of bicarbonates driving the pH over 7.5. Then the domino effect starts. With the high pH your essential trace minerals never make it to the end of the drip line. Not to mention the toxic nitrites building up in the absence of oxygen. And finally, you have the ballast salts sodium, sulphates and chlorides in organic fertilizers preventing you from recirculating your valuable nutrients.”

Clean water and clean fertilizers
Mark sums up a broad range of issues to tackle. Isn’t that a mission impossible? “Well, we are proud we did solve these issues. In collaboration with our substrate growers we have developed a concept that works. Then we named it ‘the RB 19 of organic liquid fertigation’. It is not a blueprint that every grower can copy and paste, but it provides an effective pathway towards 100% organic fertigation and does require a broad range of measures, appropriate investments and choices that never featured on the agenda of a conventional grower.”

Mark elaborates a bit more on the concept. “It starts with the selection of relatively clean liquid fertilizers, low carb and low ballast salts. Then you need to oxygenate and clean up your water supply. Clean water and clean fertilizers are the foundation of the ‘RB 19. Then you have the other essential pieces of the puzzle. In organics there are different approaches to keep you water pipes clean, promote higher levels of oxygen in your substrates, implement effective pH control and keep your drain water clean so that you can recirculate your nutrients. There are treatments of the dirty drain that do the job very well.”

Plant available nutrients
It’s a long list of actions. “Yes”, Mark replies and “it is not all. Last but not least you need to create the conditions for effective and quick conversion of organic substances into plant-available nutrients. It has been a journey of a quite a few years and every grower requires a different approach depending on the cultivation techniques and equipment that are being used. We assist growers to build their own ‘RB19’ depending on the local ambitions and constraints.”


The ‘RB 19 in organic liquid fertigation.

Additional solutions for persistent problems
Both Mark and Aldo observed that many of the organic growers they work with, although all very different, are facing another set of similar and persistent problems. “The plant uptake of nitrogen, phosphate, iron and manganese in substrate cultivation, among others. As you probably know these essential plant nutrients are often tied up or very volatile in the substrate leaving most of it unavailable for our crops. We observed the absence of effective solutions!”

So what did Mark do? “In partnership with a renowned expert in this field, we developed a selected range of biological inoculums consisting of bacterial consortia in high concentrations specifically selected to keep the nutrients in plant-available form, even if the pH is very high in your substrate. All our products also strengthen natural plant resilience. Some of our clients are now using these new products as we speak. We will keep you posted on our progress.”

The Conscious Farmer is able to optimize fertilizer recipes in sync with plant requirements selecting the cleanest (where possible liquid) organic fertilizers, thereby managing costs, and increasing plant and fruit quality and production levels, concludes Mark. “We mobilize soil biology with biologically active composts and custom-made TCF inoculums. In this way we enhance plant protection and plant nutrition bottom up. Aldo and I are complementary. Aldo works above ground, my focus is below ground. Together we bring the best for our growers.”

Original article in Hortidaily:

Breaking grounds in organic fertigation with The Conscious Farmer

Growers taking next step in plant protection with The Conscious Farmer

“We make sure you don’t need the chemicals in the first place”

Since 2018 The Conscious Farmer (TCF) consultants are assisting growers worldwide in phasing out the use of synthetic chemicals, going 100% pesticide free, or 100% organic. The Conscious Farmer consultants are now covering several hundreds of hectares of organic or pesticide free greenhouse cultivation of tomato, pepper, cucumber, eggplant, berries and several flowers. Aldo van Os, one of the partners at TCF, gives an update on how they have been going since the last publication late last year.

Different reasons for switching to pesticide free or organic
“It is clear that regulations are getting tighter on the use of pesticides. But also, and in many cases, our customers working in the greenhouse no longer wish to use chemicals and ask our help to phase it out. And in the America’s retailers and consumers are seeking cleaner products.”

Given the developments you might say that the TCF consultants have the wind in their backs on both sides of the Atlantic. Aldo: “Since we are working with many different growers we can also see that many face the same or similar issues. We are specialized in switching from conventional to organic production. We have written a lot in previous articles of what it requires to go for 100% pesticide free, with the full focus on prevention. With our 30 years’ experience we assist our growers in very practical ways and are coming to feasible solutions for the issues that arise. We even found a method to fully control all species of nematodes for vegetables, fruits and flowers. You don’t make the switch overnight, but with intensive coaching the transition can be relatively quick.”


Aldo van Os on the job

No-risk approach
Aldo likes to stress that it requires a very different mindset from the grower and his team to grow organic. “To put it simply it’s a switch from the common view ‘We always have a chemical on the shelf if things go wrong’ to ‘we focus on 100% prevention’. The habit of reaching for the chemicals is no longer from this time and age, and things can really be done differently. Based on our experience we now tell our growers that you can make the switch to 100% pesticide free using a ‘no-risk’ approach because yes, you can always use a chemical when things go really wrong, but we make sure you don’t need the chemicals in the first place. That approach helps our growers to step in and see where it brings them.”

Working as a partner for the grower
Fundamentally a 100% pesticide free cultivation is doable, according to the TCF consultants. “There are growers, including myself, that have been doing it more than 25 years. We know how it is done. It does require an open mind, support from higher management and the passion of the grower. Then the move is doable and if you have the very fundamentals in place it does the work for you.”

This season Aldo took the next step in this approach with a few clients. “Instead of having an advisory role we have been asked to take a more collaborative role. This helps some of our clients to take the next step in plant protection, seeing and learning from working together. No longer as advisor but more like a partner together with the grower, and responsible for the budget.”

Strategic combination
But what makes TCF unique in the market? “We have more than 25 years’ experience and provide independent advise. In plant protection for instance we come with that experience, our focus on prevention, and a strategic combination of BCA’s and green sprays. Hence, we always bring significant savings on cost. And that’s not all. Our intensive coaching can cover all aspects of modern organic greenhouse production vegetables, fruits and flowers.”

Lees het oorspronkelijke bericht in de Hortidaily:

“We make sure you don’t need the chemicals in the first place”

“teaming up with nature” above and below ground

Article on hortidaily.com: Crop consultants help organic growers ‘on the job’ protecting their plants Read more

Consultants in organic farming get to the heart of the matter with growers

Article in hortidaily.com: Consultants developed customised protocol to combat Tomato brown rugose fruit virus. Read more

Building Qatar’s Food Security Infrastructure

Spotlight | Mark Velders

Research Matters Newsletter,
Qatar National Research Fund
29th of April 2021

Building Qatar’s Food Security Infrastructure

In the past few years, Qatar has committed substantial efforts and resources to strengthen its food security and develop the local farming, poultry, livestock, and fisheries sectors. To outline a clear framework for improving food production, supply, storage, and trade; the Qatar National Food Security Strategy 2018-2023 has been developed to build a robust plan to improve Qatar’s food security.

This month, we feature an interview with Mark Velders, a food security expert, to understand the steps Qatar has been taking towards strengthening its food security and learn about its progress so far. Mr. Velders is an agriculture engineer and consultant to the Qatar National Food Security Initiative coordinated by the Food Security Department at MME. He is also a partner in The Conscious Farmer, an international consultancy assisting farmers and growers phasing out agriculture chemicals and switching to more biological production methods.

Kindly read the interview below:

  1. Can you briefly outline the main objectives of the Qatar National Food Security Strategy 2018-2023 and how is Qatar progressing towards achieving these goals?

In a nutshell, Qatar’s Food Security strategy aims to improve Qatar’s National Food Security in the most sustainable way by focusing on four pillars including strategic reserves, domestic self-sufficiency, international trade and logistics, and domestic markets.

Over the past few years, we have been successful in improving our domestic self-sufficiency in fresh poultry, dairy, meat, fish, and vegetables, and are now positioned to embark on the second step of increasing production. In the next phase, Qatar plans to implement aquaculture projects that will relieve the pressure off of the local fish stocks and help enhance sustainable levels of fishing and fish stock management in Qatar.

Moreover, Qatar plans for all animal fodder to be grown using recycled water instead of groundwater by 2025 along with establishing organic waste to organic fertilizer production facilities. This will immensely minimize waste and at the same time improve Qatar’s arable lands. All these initiatives are aimed at protecting and improving Qatar’s natural resources, freshwater aquifers, fish stocks, and arable lands for future generations.

In the pillar of international trade, we ensure that steps are taken to reduce trade and trade route dependencies as diversifying trade partners prevents dependence on a single partner to import essential staples like rice or lentils. Contingency planning for trade disruptions assists in keeping our trade options open in the case of any trade route disruption. Due to this approach, we have received positive and encouraging feedback from traders and retailers about Qatar’s preparedness during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Lastly, the pillar of domestic markets aims to develop policies to improve the transparency, efficiency, and fairness of the local supply chain to ensure that our local farmers get a fair price for their goods through our fully operational farm support program which is assisting over 200 growers in Qatar. We are also in the process of developing and implementing policies to minimize food loss in the supply chain.

  1. What is the uniqueness of the challenges that Qatar and the region face in terms of food security?

It is obvious that our climate and land conditions are not favorable for local food production. However, we are not alone as there are other countries we can learn from that face the same problems including Singapore, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, and other countries with limited arable lands and comparable food security issues. However, Qatar’s combined arid lands and an extremely hot and humid climate add to the complexities of its difficulties. This unique set of challenges has triggered various R&D initiatives to innovate viable solutions to irrigate lands that are non-arable and help local farmers and growers adapt to an unfavorable climate that is too harsh for local food production.

  1. What role/responsibility does the local community have in strengthening Qatar’s food security?

Our local community members are all consumers but are also traders, retailers, food processors, food producers, researchers, students, and policymakers. We all make up the food system of Qatar. All of us are implementation partners and are an integral part of the foundation for the development, implementation, and follow-up of our Food Security initiative. We plan to soon organize community dialogues where we will invite the local community and stakeholders to participate in productive discussions about our strategy, co-create, and improve the Qatar Food System as we know it to make it even more secure, resilient, sustainable, and healthy.

Read the original article on: Spotlight | Mark Velders (qnrf.org)