Dutch firms VB Greenhouse Projects, Priva and PB Techniek were involved in realising Haisheng’s greenhouse project
Chinese agribusiness and world number-one apple-juice-concentrate producer – Haisheng Group – has commissioned the largest and most advanced glasshouse for strawberry production in China.
Officially opened on 28 September 2016, Haisheng's state-of-the-art greenhouse in Tongchuan, central Shaanxi province, covers 52,000m2 and cost over RMB200m (US$29.6m) to build.
Dutch firms VB Greenhouse Projects (greenhouse structure), Priva (central control system) and PB Techniek (electro and water-technology) were involved in realising Haisheng’s ambitious – and environmentally-sustainable – glasshouse project, which runs on waste heat and water from a nearby power station.
“Haisheng believes this conventional greenhouse is one of the most advanced, even by European standards,” Li Qi, Tongchuan greenhouse project manager, told Fruitnet.
“Heated water from power generation goes through the greenhouse to provide heat for fruit production,” Qi explained. “The water cools down in the process and then can be reused by the power station. Carbon dioxide from the power station is also used for production. Haisheng estimates that we will be able to absorb 2,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.”
Haisheng’s inaugural glasshouse strawberry crop is expected this month (November). Annual production will run from November through to May.
“The current estimate for volume is 5-7kg per m2,” said Qi. “The main varieties under production will be Japanese and Korean varieties, like Akihime and Beni Hoppe, because they are sweeter and suit Asian consumers’ taste.”
“Because the greenhouse does not have a built-in cooling system, it will not grow strawberries in the summer months between June and August. However, we plan to use the facility as a strawberry nursery during this period.”
The Haisheng Group is predominatly an apple and apple juice producer from Shaanxi province. The company owns 2,000 hectares of apple orchards and exports 25 per cent of its products worldwide.
