OPPORTUNITIES AND BOTTLENECKS FOR MODEL APPLICATIONS IN PRACTICE

Currently only a small part of the more than 7000 Priva customers in 52 countries with a computer for climate, energy or irrigation control is using one or more models for energy requirement, transpiration, temperature integration and photosynthesis. There is no actual market demand for process control based on models. Most of the growers are not aware of the opportunities that models for control, planning and plant growth can offer to improve their growing results. The introduction of models in horticultural practice on a larger scale will only be possible with a step by step approach. With small steps Priva will work towards the future objective to have an integrated decision support system for worldwide greenhouse management.

Priva has three main demands before integrating a new developed model into systems. First the model should be universal to apply. The growers have a great variety in crops, are located all around the world and use all kinds of growing techniques. Secondly the model should be simple to use. Most of the growers do not have a college education and have limited time to put in data and to study the output. Thirdly the model should be independent of the technical system. Many different greenhouses, computers, installations and sensors are currently used for process control. The costs are too high to develop different model applications for all the technical systems used worldwide.