VitaLite: Recirculate and Disinfect Drain Water for Sustainable Greenhouse Operations!

1. VitaLite: from drain to gain!

2. It is oftensaid… “In the future it will all be about kilograms of product per m3 of water instead of kilograms of product per m2 of cultivation area.”

3. Do yourecognizethis? I am not able to grow anymore, I can’t expand my greenhouse There is not enough water to irrigate because of water shortage I can’t compete anymore in the market Production costs (per kg product) are high, partly due to high fertilizer cost Whatkeepsthe Greenhouse Grower awake? How do I reduce or eliminate the risk of infection? Yield losses occur because plant pathogens in irrigation water (from drain) infect the crop How can I change the bad ‘polluting’ growers image? Drain water, containing fertilizers and other substances, is discharged to the surface water

4. Common challenges for growers Water shortage High fertilizer cost Whatkeepsthe Greenhouse Grower awake? Contaminated irrigation water Pollution & bad image

5. United Farms in Mexico 65 ha high-tech greenhouses in Queretaro, Mexico CEO: Mauricio Revah Mission: Internationally competitive and sustainable greenhouse operating company

6. Fertilizer cost at Finka, United Farms Uptake & transpiration (nutrients & water) Average over 15 weeks pathogens: bacteria fungi viruses Irrigation= 76 m3/ha/day = $1053/ha/day* ifdischarged = waste / pollution ifrecirculated = plant disease Drain (46%) = 35 m3/ha/day = $875/ha/day* water + nutrients water+ nutrients * $15.3 (Mexican peso) = 1 US dollar

7. The VitaLite UV disinfection unit … allows you to recirculate your drain water and therefore save on water & fertilizer … … without introducing plant diseases and chemical residues to your crop.

8. The VitaLite UV disinfection unit

9. Fertilizer cost at Finka, United Farms Uptake & transpiration (nutrients & water) Average over 15 weeks Disinfected & Recirculated = 10 m3/ha/day = $250/ha/day* pathogens: bacteria fungi viruses Irrigation= 76 m3/ha/day = $1053/ha/day* Drain (46%) = 35 m3/ha/day = $875/ha/day* water + nutrients water+ nutrients * $15.3 (Mexican peso) = 1 US dollar

10. Return on Investment Fertilizer savings • at 29% recirculation: • 250 Mex peso/ha/day = 16,3 USD/ha/day= 4500 USD/ha/year • at 100% recirculation = 15,500 USD/ha/year Up to 15,500 USD /ha/year VitaLite payback period • can be as low as 1 year • based on fertilizer savings alone • depends on disinfection capacity requirement & efficient use cost yield sales down to 1 year VitaLite ROI is furtherincreasedby: • reduced water cost • increasedcropyield (duetoimproved water supply & crop health) • increased sales (duetobetter company image)

11. Satisfaction and cooperation • United Farms installed multiple VitaLites for disinfection of drain water. • “A disinfection system has a rapid return on investment up to 40% of the irrigation water can be reused, saving on the cost of water and fertilizer.” • United Farms and Ridder have signed into a long-term cooperation.

12. Helping you grow, your way How much would a VitaLite save you on water and fertilizer? Shall we calculate this now? ...and have an answer right away!