Nunhems

Nunhems is an international company involved in the entire vegetable chain: from growers to the processing industry, and from plant breeders, dealers, and retailers to the food service sector. Nunhems develops vegetable seeds to continuously improve vegetable varieties. Of the 24 vegetable and fruit crops Nunhems offers, 1,200 different varieties are marketed worldwide.

The collaboration between Cogas Climate Control and Nunhems dates back almost twenty years. In 2005, Cogas Climate Control installed the first heating system in the greenhouse. This was followed by the installation of the Priva computer (electrical engineering) and the water technology system. From 2018 onwards, the collaboration was further intensified with the construction of high-tech climate cells and the Greenex greenhouse complex.

Between 2018 and 2020, we built 4 high-tech climate cells in two phases. These cells are designed for crop and seed research based on the climate conditions of the continent where the crops will ultimately grow. This includes factors such as water quantity, humidity, temperatures, light intensity, air speed, CO2 levels, and more. We designed the installations specifically for this research. It is crucial for the climate cells to allow for variations in these factors. Additionally, all parameters are measured, monitored, and recorded for further analysis.

The research varieties developed in the climate cells are grown by Nunhems in the Greenex greenhouse complex. Here, checks and comparisons are made before the varieties are sent to growers. For this greenhouse complex, we provided the heating, electrical installation, and the entire Priva climate control system. It is important for Nunhems to be able to think ahead and respond flexibly to developments in the market and the research world.

In the development and testing phase of vegetable seeds, a lot of time is invested. It is crucial to think ahead about market demands for the coming years. Nunhems needs an innovative partner that can think along and commit to a long-term collaboration. Nunhems states:

“The open communication with Cogas Climate Control fosters growth, both for us as a company and indirectly for the vegetable seeds. Through this open communication, we understand what is happening, what we can expect from each other, there is mutual trust, and we are all committed to the final result. Cogas thinks along with us and continues to develop as a company.”

In the vegetable seed sector, there is a significant time gap between developing a new seed variety and actually bringing it to market. There are prolonged discussions and feasibility assessments during this period. Following this, a concrete plan is formulated, and climate cells or greenhouses are either constructed or modified. Given the rapid pace of global development, it may be necessary to incorporate new developments into a plan that was previously finalized and approved. We are eager to collaborate with our clients to integrate the latest advancements into the projects we are working on.