Schenkeveld - Tomatoes - Richard Schenkeveld - Leon vd Zalm - Prominent & Growers United member - Netherlands
“Schenkeveld, affiliated with cooperative Growers United, is a leading Dutch tomato company which produces daily on a large scale and continuously invests in innovation, sustainability and cultivation security. A stable and high-quality water quality is thereby essential for a healthy and reliable cultivation.
Within Schenkeveld, we work daily with large volumes of irrigation water. At a business acquired last year, there were 2 rainwater silos of 6,500 m³ and 2,500 m³ and water quality had been a concern for years. Algae got free rein here and caused structural nuisance. This manifested itself not only in visibly polluted water, but also in clogged filters, extra maintenance, deployment of chemicals and man-hours, and uncertainty further down the water chain. Those costs and the associated hassles are very recognisable to many horticulturists.
In the high summer of 2025, a field test was conducted together with Ultramins in our rainwater silo of 6,500 m³. Especially in these period, in which algal pressure and maximum microbiological load are, the USAF™ technology deployed to assess impact under realistic and harsh conditions. When Ultramins approached us for this test, I indicated that I would like to be able to actually see the bottom of the silo one day. Frankly, in all these years, it had never managed to do that. Following the deployment of Ultramins and the USAF™ transmitters completely changed that picture.
Within a short time, about three weeks, the difference became apparent. Where the water was previously murky and algae-rich, we could now see down to the bottom of the silo (see photo).
Measurements confirmed this marked improvement in water quality. The algal pressure decreased strong, biofilm dissolved and even the pathogens disappeared out of the water. Our water analyses were carried out weekly by Normec Green Agro. For us, the decisive factor here is not so much the absolute number of algae per millilitre, but rather the fact that the algae no longer had harmful effects on our plant, water chain and cultivation.
Perhaps Even more important is the confidence this gives in the stability of the system. By clean and healthy rainwater at the beginning of the process, the first blow, we avoid problems further down the chain. That works out in fewer blockages, fewer corrective measures, lower costs and above all, calmness in operations. Healthy watering furthermore, has a large share in preventing failure and contributes to resilient cultivation and stable production.
Based on the findings from this test, cooperative Growers United decided to invest in the deployment of USAF™ transmitters at multiple Schenkeveld sites from early 2026. The goal is To not only retain the water quality achieved, but to make it structurally secure as part of our water management. The combination of visible results, measurable improvements and the completely chemical-free nature of the technology makes Ultramins a very valuable partner for us, their solution shows that water quality need not be an uncertainty, but a manageable and reliable foundation under cultivation.”
