Lettuce - Primaflor, Spain
Operations
A programme of plant breeding in conjunction with seed suppliers sees over 300 different varieties planted every week during the growing season, with the objectives of improving pest/disease resistant and growth characteristics for future generations. Only 1% of the trialled varieties make it to commercial production, and it then takes a further three years until full-scale field production. It is hoped that these new varieties will reduce the requirements for plant protection products and fertilisers required to produce a marketable lettuce.
Pest and disease strategies are planned out in conjunction with three specialist companies. DuPont develops caterpillar control, Sygenta fungus control and Bayer botrytis control strategies. It is hoped that by working directly with these companies the farm can control these conditions in the most effective way.
The farm runs a plant breeding programme, to develop resistant plants with strong growth characteristics. This will decrease the need for intensive inputs in future species.