A four-day knowledge platform of Open Field Demo Days is to be held by Syngenta, presenting the latest global trends and developments in field vegetable production.

The event, due to take place in Andijk, Holland, from 24 to 27 September 2013 will boast in-field demonstrations of new and existing Syngenta varieties in a variety of vegetables from cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce and spinach to broccoli, endive and courgette.

Innovations in growth technology and crop protection, on display in over four hectares of demo fields, involve nearly three hundred products and solutions of value to growers including practical applications of precision technology, utilisation of drones for crop inspection and a novel hydroponic growing system. And it doesn’t stop there, with an innovative cauliflower leaf-tying machine on show as well as a black light demonstration, to show the effects of spraying in a darkened environment, another Syngenta development.

Focussing on environmental sustainability, the Syngenta Heliosec initiative on display will provide a practical solution for the safe disposal of spray tank washings. Also, ‘Operation Pollinator’ has the potential to optimise the performance of pollinating insects for crop yield and quality in relevant field vegetable production, as well as to maximise valuable biodiversity across the entire farmed environment. 

Visitors to the event will have the opportunity to tour the variety fields and follow the demonstrations and interactive presentations, together with their Syngenta advisors from the UK and across Northern Europe.

Michael Kester, Commercial Unit Head of Syngenta Benelux, believes the event will prove an essential visit for all growers and businesses involved in the field vegetable industry. "This series of Open Field Demo Days exemplifies how dynamic the sector is, and how our collaboration plays a leading part within it. The interaction with growers at events such as this further ensures that we can respond quickly to changing needs in the marketplace."